Derek Carr is putting his NFL career in the rearview.
The New Orleans Saints quarterback is retiring after 11 seasons, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported on Saturday, per sources informed of the situation.
The team later announced Carr's decision to retire.
The impetus behind the abrupt and stunning retirement is a shoulder injury that would require surgery, according to the Insiders.
"Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with Heather, I've decided to retire from the National Football League," Carr said in a statement on Saturday. "For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. 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."
According to the team, Carr discovered the injury in late March while ramping up for the 2025 season. It marked the first significant throwing session for the QB since suffering a left-hand injury and concussion in early December. Carr previously noted that he'd been in contact with the Saints medical staff since discovering the injury.
Rapoport reported that Carr tried an injection and rehab, but it wouldn't allow him to be 100% until another procedure. Surgery would jeopardize his 2025 campaign. Additionally, there was no guarantee that the veteran signal-caller would ever return to the gridiron at the same level.
Ultimately, Carr and his wife, Heather, decided it was best for all parties for him to walk away from football at age 34.
"Obviously, this whole offseason Derek's had to go through a lot as you go through this process," Saints head coach Kellen Moore told reporters on Saturday. "Making the decision to retire from the National Football League after an 11-year career -- first of all you respect and appreciate so much of what Derek has done in this league. The way he's done it, the on-the-field performance and off-the-field person he showcased and the impact he's had on so many people in this profession is really, really special. Certainly coming here, I've always had so much respect and appreciation for him and as we've gone through this process, obviously, this is how it ultimately was settled. It was really good communication through the whole process as far as navigating this. Again, challenging circumstances with him being injured at the end of the year and then just navigating things throughout the whole offseason and process.
"So, I think Derek, the people that are a part of his life, have communicated really well with the Saints. There's been real good communication and so we feel like it was done the right way."
A second-round pick by the Oakland Raiders in 2014, Carr was a starter from Day 1. The Fresno State product spent nine years with the Raiders, compiling a 63-79 career record in Oakland and Las Vegas. He passed for 35,222 yards and 217 touchdowns with 99 interceptions, earning four Pro Bowl nods along the way.
Carr holds the Raiders franchise records for most passing yards, completion percentage (64.6%), passing TDs (217), highest passer rating (91.8), and lowest interception percentage (2.0%) -- minimum 1,500 pass attempts with Raiders.
Carr was selected to the Pro Bowl in three of his first four seasons, one of 14 QBs in NFL history to do so, per NFL Research. Carr finished third in AP Most Valuable Player voting in 2016 (12-3 W-L, 28 passing TDs and six INTs), though he did not finish the season due to a broken leg.
The strong-armed passer was a lightning rod during his time with the Raiders. He was seen by some as a player who couldn't get the club over the hump -- just two team playoff appearances. Others defended Carr by noting that the organization never adequately surrounded him with talent, and the consistent coaching churning offered zero consistency.
His time with the Raiders ended after the 2022 season, when the club, coached by Josh McDaniels, benched Carr for the season's final two games to avoid injury that would guarantee money on his contract as they planned to part ways. After Carr declined to waive his no-trade clause, the Raiders released him in Feb. 2023. He subsequently signed a four-year, $150 million contract with the Saints, reuniting with former Raiders head coach Dennis Allen.
Carr generated a 14-13 record while throwing for 6,023 yards, 40 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in his two tumultuous seasons with the Saints. In his final campaign in New Orleans, he played just 10 games while battling multiple injuries.
Carr completed 28 career fourth quarter comebacks, which ties him for 14th-most in NFL history, and is tied for most by any QB since 2014 (Matthew Stafford). Carr finishes his 11-year career with 41,245 passing yards, 257 touchdown passes and 112 interceptions.
By retiring, Carr forgoes the $30 million guaranteed this season on his contract, while the Saints won't seek reimbursement for the $10 million roster bonus and signing bonus, Rapoport reported.
The retirement is expected to help clear up a littered Saints cap situation in 2026, with minimal change to 2025.
It also completely clears the runway for second-round rookie Tyler Shough to attempt to take over QB1 duties without looking over his shoulder at a rehabbing veteran.
Turning 26 in September, Shough owns a live arm and is a prototypical build. He's the target that Moore glowed about following the draft. The Saints hope the rookie stops the consistent churning of quarterbacks.
Since Drew Brees retired following the 2020 season, eight different players have started a game for the Saints, second-most in the NFL behind only the Browns with 11: Carr (27), Andy Dalton (14), Jameis Winston (10), Spencer Rattler (6), Taysom Hill (5), Trevor Siemian (4), Ian Book (1) and Jake Haener (1). Shough likely makes it nine at some point.
With Carr retiring and the Saints recently releasing Ben DiNucci, Moore's QB room is uber-young. Second-year fifth-round pick Rattler, third-year fourth-round pick Haener and rookie Shough will battle all summer to earn the starting job in New Orleans.
"We are going to let all three of these guys roll and they've all earned these opportunities," Moore said about the QB competition. "We will let Jake, Spencer and Tyler all three kind of go through this process. Again, we will play patience and let these guys compete."
