A three-sport performer for the Muskegon Heights Tigers, Russ earned All-Lake Michigan Athletic Conference honors as a defensive tackle in 1970, averaging 14 solo tackles a game as a senior.

A member of the National Honor Society, he was recruited by a handful of schools, including Indiana University.  Russ opted to attend the University of Michigan and joined the Wolverines football team in 1971 as a walk-on.  He made the team and quickly impressed the coaching staff with his play on the freshman squad.  An able backup as a sophomore, Carl became a starter for Coach Bo Schembechler’s Wolverines in the fall of 1973.  The former Tiger finished the ’73 season second in tackles with 94, including a team leading 15 in a 10-10 tie with archrival Ohio State.  Unfortunately, the tie prevented Michigan from going to the Rose Bowl, as the Big Ten selected the Buckeyes for the post-season trip to Pasadena.
While at Michigan, the 6-2, 215-pound linebacker earned a reputation for quickness and great mobility.  Drafted in the 13th round of the 1975 National Football League draft by Atlanta, Russ signed a three-year contract with the Falcons.  A backup for 10-year veteran, Tommy Nobis, Russ saw action in 14 regular-season games in 1975 as a member of the special teams.  Released by the Falcons just prior to the 1976 opener, he signed on with the New York Jets.

Russ started in two of the first three games of the 1976 season for the Jets, before a knee sprain sidelined the linebacker for most of the season.  Despite successful off-season surgery, New York waived him following training camp.  However, Russ returned to the Jets’ lineup in October 1977, when he was signed as a replacement for linebacker Bob Martin.  He retired following the ’77 season.