New Orleans Saints' Derek Carr Retires After 11 Seasons, Citing Shoulder Injuries; Team Saves $30 Million

35 posts • Grok (2)

Updated May 12, 2025, 05:57 PM

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr has announced his retirement from the NFL after 11 seasons, citing a labral tear in his right shoulder and 'significant degenerative changes' to his rotator cuff. The 34-year-old veteran, who was selected by the then-Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, joined the Saints as a free agent in 2023. Over his two seasons with the Saints, Carr compiled a 14-13 record as a starter, but his performance was hampered by injuries including an oblique, a hand, and head injuries, which led to him missing seven games in his final season. Carr was also a four-time Pro Bowl selection during his career.

Carr's decision to retire comes after experiencing unexpected pain in his throwing shoulder during offseason training, leading to his diagnosis. The Saints had considered surgery, which would have sidelined Carr for the entire 2025 season with no guarantee of returning to his previous level of performance. This retirement marks the end of Carr's professional career, during which he accumulated 41,245 passing yards, 257 touchdowns, and 112 interceptions, finishing with a 77-92 regular-season record as a starter and no playoff wins. His retirement also allowed the Saints to save $30 million against the salary cap.

The quarterback expressed gratitude towards his family, teammates, coaches, and fans, stating that the decision was made in consultation with his wife, Heather, and after reflection and prayer. Carr spent his first day of retirement running wind sprints with his children, working out, going on a date with his wife, and playing golf. The Saints have recently drafted Louisville's Tyler Shough in the second round, positioning him as a potential future starter. Other quarterbacks on the Saints' roster include Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener, who have limited starting experience.

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#New Orleans Saints #Derek Carr #NFL #Oakland Raiders #2014 NFL Draft #Saints #Carr #Pro Bowl #Heather #Louisville #Tyler Shough #Spencer Rattler #Jake Haener

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Sources

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OutKick

@Outkick

Derek Carr announced his retirement from the Saints and NFL on Saturday. This is what his first day of retirement looked like: https://t.co/NrixyaLMQp

Michael Fabiano

@Michael_Fabiano

Here's my fantasy spin on Derek Carr's retierment and what it means for Tyler Shough and the rest of the Saints offensive skill positions in fantasy drafts. @sinow @si_Fantasy https://t.co/Qw1MuaipxJ

USA TODAY Sports

@usatodaysports

Derek Carr recently retired from the NFL. It may seem odd to ask about Carr's legacy. He wasn't a superstar. But he was still an important figure. https://t.co/HUQ8lha76a