Just months into his role, Saints head coach Kellen Moore is already under a microscope following quarterback Derek Carr’s abrupt retirement. The sudden decision, tied to a shoulder injury discovered in March, has sparked questions about whether the injury was the actual reason or merely a convenient explanation for a more complex exit.
Was Derek Carr’s Retirement About Injury Or Something Else?
Despite being under contract through 2026, Carr announced his retirement on May 10 following the discovery of a torn labrum and rotator cuff degeneration. However, several team sources noted that the injury had never appeared on a 2024 injury report.
One source said Carr “went through a routine physical at the end of the season like all the other players on the roster and… no issues were voiced about the shoulder.”
This has prompted speculation that Carr had been contemplating retirement well before the shoulder injury. “What we thought was his injury going into [2025] looks a lot different now,” said a team source.
Others believe Carr may have only discovered the shoulder problem when attempting heavier throwing in the offseason, as one coaching source explained: “He wasn’t in the mode of doing heavy throwing late in the year… so it’s possible he didn’t discover problems [in the shoulder] until he started to do more.”
Carr had been exploring a move to another team in early March, with informal talks involving at least two QB-needy franchises. One source with knowledge of those conversations said, “Carr was simply considering his options at that point.” Carr’s silence during that period, coupled with head coach Moore’s noncommittal stance, added to the uncertainty.
Carr’s final press conference offered no hint of a shoulder problem. He said, “It came down to, I just couldn’t hold a football. That’s kind of important to do.” The statement focused solely on his hand injury and future in New Orleans.
By retiring, Carr gave up $30 million in guaranteed salary. A source familiar with the settlement said Carr “did not want to earn a bloated salary against the team’s cap with no intention or possibility of playing after surgery. ‘Integrity matters to him,’” the source added.
Had the Saints known earlier, they might have pursued a high-priced veteran like Sam Darnold, but Carr’s contract made that difficult. “I think the draft was always the most logical play,” a team source admitted. The Saints eventually drafted Tyler Shough at No. 40.
As doubts persist over the injury timeline, the decision has left even Saints insiders unsettled. “Is this what everybody anticipated? I don’t think so,” a team source concluded.
