He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.

With a large amount of depth at the position, Hyde had to compete against Kendall Hunter, LaMichael James, Marcus Lattimore, and 49ers all-time leading rusher, Frank Gore.

Last season's backup running back Kendall Hunter tore his ACL during training camp, Marcus Lattimore retired due to a previously suffered ACL and MCL tear in college, and James sprained his elbow.

[25][26] In Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints during a close game, the team turned to Frank Gore leaning on him, leaving Hyde on the bench for most of the game but Hyde showed a lot of promise rushing for 36 yards on four carries and a touchdown.

In Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks, Hyde was playing well until he was benched in the fourth quarter as a result of a sprained ankle and back injury he suffered during the game.

[29] After the 49ers chose not to re-sign Frank Gore, Hyde entered the season as the front runner to become the feature back, but he was in competition for the starting job against Mike Davis, Reggie Bush, and former rugby league star Jarryd Hayne.

[30][31] Over the next few weeks, the team suffered two blowout losses on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals and a home loss to the Green Bay Packers as a result to the team focused on the passing game to score points, abandoning the running game.

[32][33][34] In Week 5 against the New York Giants the team was more balanced, Hyde rushed for 93 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown.

Despite his successful game, the 49ers lost on a last minute touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Larry Donnell with 21 seconds on the clock.

Hyde was expected to have a large volume of work as the 49ers starting running back, the team's new head coach Chip Kelly's offense relies on a good rushing attack.

In the season opener, the team shutout the Los Angeles Rams in a 28–0 victory, Hyde had a great game rushing for 88 yards and two touchdowns on Monday Night Football.

[48] The next week, Hyde rushed for 193 yards and one receiving touchdown in an overtime loss against the New York Jets.

[51][52] During the offseason, the 49ers new head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch brought in a lot of competition at the running back position.

[53] Hyde entered in the 2017 season having lost weight; he arrived to training camp in great shape weighing 228 pounds.

"[54] Carlos Hyde's new body transformation led to results on the field, he showed off a quicker burst on rushing attempts than ever before.

Hyde averaged five yards per carry in the season opener but after the first half, the team was playing from behind so to make a comeback the offense focused heavily on the pass abandoning the rushing attack.

[68] On September 20, his 28th birthday, Hyde's girlfriend was due to give birth to his first child, and he went from the hospital to the Browns' game against the Jets.

Hyde ran for 97 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score that gave the Browns a 21–17 win, their first in 19 games.

[69] On October 19, 2018, the Browns traded Hyde to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a fifth round pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

[76] In Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Hyde rushed 26 times for 116 yards and 1 touchdown in the 31–24 win.

[77] During Week 9 against the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium, Hyde finished with 160 rushing yards, including a 58-yard run that resulted in a fumble lost in the endzone for a touchback.

[84] On March 17, 2021, Hyde signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Jaguars and reunited with his former college coach, Urban Meyer.