After a year in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts and the Montreal Alouettes, Caroline played for 10 seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears.
Caroline played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini as a halfback, where he lettered in 1953 and 1954.
After being cut by the Argonauts, Caroline signed with the Montreal Alouettes, where he rushed for 575 yards in his first season.
Caroline intercepted Johnny Unitas's first NFL career pass attempt and returned it for a touchdown.
He was a two-way player for the Bears' 1956 Western Conference champions and a cornerback on the 1963 NFL championship team.