Derek Carr retires after shoulder injury ends 11-year NFL career

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Derek Carr #4 of the New Orleans Saints looks on from the field during warmups prior to an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Caesars Superdome on December 29, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

NEW ORLEANS - Derek Carr, the veteran starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, announced his retirement Saturday.

The 34-year old has played for 11 seasons, the last two with the Saints. He was entering his third year of a four-year, $150 million contract. 

Why is Derek Carr retiring? 

Dig deeper:

What they’re saying: Carr decided to retire because of a labral tear in his right shoulder and "significant degenerative changes" to his rotator cuff, according to the Saints. He experienced unexpected pain in his throwing shoulder when he began to ramp up training this offseason, which led to his diagnosis that now has cut short his career.

"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 announcement.

What they're saying:

Carr said he made the decision in consultation with his wife, Heather, and "upon reflection of prayer."

"For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience," Carr said. "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."

Derek Carr’s career

The backstory:

Carr has played for 11 pro seasons since being selected out of Fresno State by the then-Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.

He was acquired by the Saints as a free agent in 2023 but had mixed results in New Orleans, going 14-13 as a starter while struggling through oblique, hand and head injuries that caused him to miss seven games last season.

The Saints did not acknowledge Carr's injury until the day before the draft. Carr did not speak publicly about the injury until a few days later, when he delivered a guest sermon at a Las Vegas church. In that sermon, Carr said his critics were "lying" about him when they questioned the unusual timing of the injury, as well as both the team's and Carr's initial reticence to address it openly or answer questions about it.

Carr has career passing totals of 41,245 yards, 257 touchdowns and 112 interceptions. He retires with a 77-92 regular-season record as a starter and without having won a playoff game.