Saints Quarterback Derek Carr Announces Retirement After 11th NFL Seasons

Saints Quarterback Derek Carr Announces Retirement After 11th Nfl Seasons

That’s it. That’s the tweet. Derek Carr — the four-time Pro Bowler and longtime Raiders quarterback who most recently suited up for the Saints — is calling it a career. Eleven seasons, over 41,000 passing yards, and zero playoff wins later… Carr is out.

The reason? His throwing shoulder finally threw in the towel.

According to Reuters, Carr has a torn labrum and degenerative damage in his rotator cuff. Surgery was on the table. A long rehab, too. But the 34-year-old decided it wasn’t worth gambling his health — or his family time — for one more shot at glory.

“I gave it everything I had,” Carr said in a heartfelt statement. “Now it’s time for the next chapter.”

You might remember Carr as the face of the Raiders for nearly a decade — back when they were still in Oakland. Or maybe from all those games where he put up monster stats but somehow still lost by a field goal.

After the Raiders moved on from him in 2023, Carr signed with the New Orleans Saints, hoping for a fresh start. But injuries and inconsistency plagued his one season there.

The man could sling it, no doubt. He ends his career with 257 touchdowns and a QBR that bounced between solid and “wait, he’s how good this week?”

But more than stats, Carr was one of the good guys in the league — a leader, a locker room anchor, and the guy you could trust not to throw teammates under the bus after a bad loss. (AP News noted he walked away with “class, humility, and honesty.” No argument there.)

As for the Saints? Time to look at what’s next. Rookie Tyler Shough might get a chance. Spencer Rattler’s in the mix. And Jake Haener’s still hanging around the depth chart like a forgotten streaming service.

Carr finishes without that elusive playoff win, but let’s be real — he had plenty working against him. Bad defenses. Shaky coaches. That one game with no offensive line. You know the one.

Still, he walks away with respect, a healthy-ish body, and probably a solid podcast deal waiting if he wants it.

Enjoy retirement, No. 4. You earned it.