# Former USC football Heisman winner Carson Palmer says coaching high school football is where he’s ‘supposed to be’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/former-usc-football-heisman-winner-carson-palmer-says-coaching-high-school-football-is-where-hes-supposed-to-be/
- Published: 2026-11-12T03:16:02+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T04:23:21+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/11/sports/carson-palmer-says-coaching-high-school-football-is-where-hes-supposed-to-be/
- Topics: Football, Sport, World

## Key points

- Palmer says coaching at Santa Margarita is where he is meant to be.
- The Eagles completed the regular season 10-0.
- His son Fletch threw for 1,501 yards and 11 touchdowns.

## Summary

Carson Palmer says returning to Santa Margarita as head coach has convinced him that coaching high school football is where he belongs. The former USC Heisman-winning quarterback and 14-year NFL veteran has led his alma mater to a strong run, and says he does not want to be anywhere else.

Santa Margarita finished the regular season unbeaten at 10-0 and enters the play-offs as reigning CIF Southern Section Division 1 and CIF Open Division state champions. The Eagles are 21-3 under Palmer; his son Fletch, the team’s junior quarterback, passed for 1,501 yards, 11 touchdowns and a 65.2 per cent completion rate. After controversy over Fletch being named starter ahead of senior Matthew Smith, the team will begin its title defence against San Clemente.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.