The Carr is out of gas and the transmission is blown. Derek Carr is walking away from his sanctuary, football.
The New Orleans Saints quarterback announced his retirement from the NFL on Saturday. Carr cited the effects from a chronic right shoulder injury as the overwhelming factor in his decision.
“Surgery was an option, jeopardizing the entire 2025 season, yet there was no guarantee Derek would return to the level of strength, function and performance of play to which he was accustomed,” the Saints said in a written statement.
Carr experienced excruciating shoulder pain in March while training for the 2025 season. After being examined by doctors, it was determined that Carr had labral tear and also had significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff. Carr said in a statement on the Saints official website he met and consulted with doctors and surgery was on the board, but it would put his availability for the upcoming season in serious doubt, and it would not be a sure thing that he would have a full recovery in strength and function, ultimately leading the signal caller to retirement.
“Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with (my wife) Heather, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League,” Carr said. “For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience.
Embed from Getty Images“It’s difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.”
The 34-year-old quarterback played 11 seasons in the NFL, spending his final two in the ‘Big Easy’ with the Saints. He passed for 6,023 yards, 40 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 27 regular season games, resulting in a 14-13 record as a starter in the Bayou.
Carr said that he and the team had been in “constant communication” about the injury.
“We’re figuring it out and we’re going to go forward with that,” Carr said on April 28 during a guest sermon at Church LV in Las Vegas.
New Orleans selected quarterback Tyler Shough in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Louisville with the 40th overall pick and the rookie now becomes the favorite to win the starting job. The Saints also have quarterbacks Spencer Rattler out of the University of South Carolina and Jake Haener on their depth chart.
Carr was originally selected in the second round by the then-Oakland Raiders in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Fresno State, 12 years after his brother David was drafted first overall by the expansion team, Houston Texans.
Derek Carr played his first nine seasons with the Raiders and helped usher the franchise to Las Vegas in 2020. He holds many Raiders passing records, including most passing yards and touchdown passes.
The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback compiled 41,245 yards, 257 touchdowns and 112 interceptions in 169 career regular-season games. He had a 77-92 career record, 15 games below .500, as a starter.
