After his playing career ended, Carpenter spent 31 years as an assistant coach in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings (1964–1966), Atlanta Falcons (1967–1968), Washington Redskins (1969), St. Louis Cardinals (1970–1972), Houston Oilers (1970–1974), Green Bay Packers (1975–1985), Detroit Lions (1987–1988), and Philadelphia Eagles (1990–1994).

Carpenter also coached the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League of American Football in 1996 and at Southwest Texas State University.

[1] His brother, Preston Carpenter (1934 – 2011), married Jeanne Eytchison and the couple had three sons: Scott, Bruce, and Lewis Todd.

[1][2] Carpenter also played wide receiver, tight end, and served as back-up quarterback during his college years.

[3][4] Carpenter played baseball after his 1953 senior year in college in the minor (then class B) Carolina League, as a pitcher, with the Winston-Salem Cardinals.

Carpenter was listed at a height of 6 foot 2 inches and had a playing weight from 205 to 220 pounds and was considered fast afoot.

But the Lions dominated from start to finish, causing six turnovers and limiting the Browns' quarterbacks (Tommy O'Connell and Milt Plum) to 95 yards passing in a 59–14 rout.

In 1959, Coach Vince Lombardi got a key trade by getting Lew Carpenter to come to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and to play for the Packers.

On September 27, 1959, a sellout crowd packed Green Bay's New City Stadium for the first Packer game of the regular season against the Chicago Bears.

"Packer halfback Paul Hornung took a handoff from the quarterback, ran to his left and threw the ball downfield to a wide open receiver near the goal line."

"[9][10] At halftime in the locker room, Coach Lombardi concluded his pep talk with, "And now, men of Green Bay, step aside.

In response, Carpenter and the rest of the Packers slammed their lockers, growled loudly, and assaulted the field in determination.

This consistent level of success would lead to Lombardi's Packers becoming one of the most prominent teams of their era, and even to their being featured as the face of the NFL on the cover of Time on December 21, 1962, as part of the magazine's cover story on "The Sport of the '60s" and Lew Carpenter is mentioned in the article as one of the Packers' star players.

[1][2] Carpenter coached several Vikings who were later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Fran Tarkenton and Carl Eller.

Under Head Coach Norb Hecker, the Falcons became the only expansion team in history not to finish in last place their first year.

Carpenter helped coach the Falcons first victory on November 20, 1966, defeating the New York Giants, 27 to 16, at Yankee Stadium.

Tommy Nobis, first draft pick and coached by Carpenter was voted to the Pro Bowl and named 1966 Rookie of the Year.

[14][15] Carpenter participated in many pivotal events for the newly created American football team called the Atlanta Falcons.

Tommy Nobis (LB) was named to his second Pro Bowl and Junior Coffey (RB) ended the year with 722 yards to finish as the eighth leading rusher in the league and the Falcons’ Most Valuable Player and Carpenter helped coach them both.

[14][15] In 1969, the Washington Redskins hired Vince Lombardi, who gained fame with the Green Bay Packers, to be their new head coach.

[16] Lombardi reorganized the Redskins and brought along a couple of coaches he worked with before, including Bill Austin for the offensive line and Lew Carpenter for the receivers.

Those Redskins who became inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame include Sonny Jurgensen in 1983, Charley Taylor in 1984, Bobby Mitchell in 1983 and Sam Huff in 1982 were helped in one way or the other by Carpenter.

Carpenter's General Manager during his assistant coaching tenure was George Preston Marshall who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969.

That was the year William V. Bidwell took sole control as managing general partner and made many changes in the coaching staff and players.

[19] Carpenter did work with and help coach future Pro Football Hall of Fame winners during his time with the Cardinals.

[21] Carpenter worked with and helped coach future Pro Football Hall of Fame winners during his time the Oilers.

A notorious example includes the 1974 trade in which Dan Devine (HC 1971–1974) acting as GM sent five 1975 and 1976 draft picks (two first-rounders, two second-rounders and a third rounder) to the Los Angeles Rams for aging quarterback John Hadl, who would spend only 1½ seasons in Green Bay.

[4][28] At the end of the 1988 season, Fontes hired Mouse Davis and June Jones as assistants and installed the Run & Shoot offense.

In 1996, after 47 years of playing and coaching professional NFL football, Carpenter reluctantly retired from the game he loved because of his health.

[32] The "Lewis Carpenter University of Arkansas Scholarship" has been established in his memory through Chase Bank in New Braunfels, Texas.