Saints QB Derek Carr Retires at 34; Shoulder Injury Ends 11-Year Career, Saves Team $30 Million

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Updated May 10, 2025, 04:57 PM

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr announced his retirement on Saturday, concluding an 11-year NFL career that included four Pro Bowl selections and franchise passing records with the Las Vegas Raiders. Carr, 34, said he made the decision after consultations with doctors and family about a degenerative rotator-cuff injury in his throwing shoulder.

Carr first experienced significant pain in late March during his return to high-volume throwing. Multiple medical evaluations determined that surgery offered the only path to full strength but would require roughly six months of rehabilitation, effectively ruling him out for the entire 2025 season. Having already attempted injections and rehab without success, the veteran signal-caller opted to step away rather than spend the year on injured reserve.

The retirement carries major financial implications for New Orleans. Carr will keep the $10 million roster bonus he earned in March, while the Saints recoup about $30 million in cash and salary-cap space and will not seek repayment of the quarterback’s previous $28.5 million signing bonus. The move follows an offseason contract restructure designed to ease the club’s cap burden.

Carr exits with 41,000 passing yards—placing him in the NFL’s top 25 all-time—along with 257 touchdown passes and a third-place finish in the 2016 MVP voting. Drafted in the second round by the Raiders in 2014, he spent nine seasons with the franchise before signing with New Orleans last year.

The Saints now turn to a depth chart led by second-round rookie Tyler Shough alongside Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener as the team assesses its long-term plans under new head coach Kellen Moore.

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#New Orleans Saints #Derek Carr #NFL #Pro Bowl #Las Vegas Raiders #Carr #New Orleans #Saints #Raiders #Tyler Shough #Spencer Rattler #Jake Haener #Kellen Moore

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Sources

nfl.com(5)espn.com(2)si.com(2)ftw.usatoday.com(2)

FOX Sports: NFL

@NFLonFOX

With Derek Carr announcing his retirement from the NFL, here’s a look at the #Saints QB room ⬇️ (📸 via @Saints) https://t.co/baJ6gYVGQs

ESPN.com.mx

@ESPNmx

DEREK CARR PUTS AN END TO HIS CAREER! 😱 The former Raiders and Saints quarterback announced his retirement after 11 seasons in the #NFLxESPN 🏈 https://t.co/l5Il7XWiIl