Harold Carmichael is a former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the NFL. He walked-on at Southern University and became a tri-sport athlete. He used his 6'8" height to play on the basketball team as a center, and threw the javelin and discus for the track and field team. In football, he shifted to playing wide receiver, where he was a four year starter

. Carmichael was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round (161st overall) of the 1971 NFL Draft.He played with the Philadelphia Eagles (1971–1983) and one season for the Dallas Cowboys in 1984.  In 1989, he was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. In 2004, he was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. He was elected to four Pro Bowls in his NFL career. He finished third in receiving yards in 1978 with 1,072 and was second in receiving touchdowns in 1979 with 11. In 1980, he set an NFL record at the time by catching passes in 127 consecutive NFL games.

Carmichael was the Director of Player Development and Alumni for the Eagles from 1998−2014, and a Fan Engagement Liaison from 2014−2015, before retiring again in 2015. In January 2020, he was elected as one of 10 seniors to the Centennial Slate for the Class of 2020 of the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame.