A long-time Las Vegas Raiders starter and the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback in 2023–24, Derek Carr made his retirement official in May after scans revealed a labral tear and degenerative rotator cuff changes in his throwing shoulder, ending an 11-year run and moving New Orleans fully into a youth plan at quarterback.
Why Is Derek Carr Not Playing in the NFL?
Medical evaluations left 2025 in doubt for Carr, and he chose to retire rather than undergo surgery that would keep him off the field or try to play well below full strength. “That part was tough because I didn’t want to have surgery and just sit there and — it sounds crazy but — just take the Saints money,” Carr told David Rumsey of Front Office Sports.
Carr framed his May 10 decision as best for everyone involved. “I wouldn’t have been able to play if I had the surgery,” Carr said. “And then if I tried to play with it, I wasn’t near 100%, and so that doesn’t help them, either. I just felt like it was the right thing to do for myself and for the team.”
The agreement clarified New Orleans’ offseason. The Saints proceeded with the rookie minicamp and OTA installation for younger passers without lingering quarterback uncertainty, aligning timing and roster planning after Carr’s announcement.
Financially, the sides agreed that Carr would forfeit $30 million in 2025 base salary tied to his playing status, and the team would not pursue his $10 million roster bonus trigger that would have been voided by retirement. That structure eased cap management and eliminated the need for later injured reserve decisions.
Derek Carr’s Injury Problems Led To Early NFL Retirement
Carr retires at 34 with 41,245 passing yards, 257 touchdowns, and a 77-92 record as a starter, a career that spanned nine seasons with the Raiders and two with the Saints. His last year in New Orleans included oblique, hand, and head injuries, and the shoulder findings ultimately dictated this exit.
New Orleans drafted Tyler Shough in the second round and also has Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener, moving the position toward internal competition in 2025.
Carr has emphasized peace of mind over earnings. “I never played just for the money,” he said. “I had a whole bunch of people tell me how crazy I was, and, ‘Man, I would never have done that.’ That’s all cool, but I’ve gained all these things that the world has to offer, and it doesn’t really do anything for your heart. I knew my heart was at peace, and that’s really all that mattered.”
His post-NFL focus is family and being home. “My agent literally texted me a few days ago and he said, ‘Hey, just checking it in. How’s everything? You still feel comfortable with the decision?’ And I sent him a picture of me on the beach with my two kids playing. And I said, ‘This beats an OTA any day.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I thought so,’” Carr said. “So, I’m doing great and have thoroughly enjoyed being home.”
Reporting at the time characterized a comeback as unlikely given the injury severity, age, and absence of a clear team fit beyond New Orleans, even while acknowledging Carr’s long-standing durability and top-tier productivity in multiple systems. The Saints’ timing removed distractions, and Carr’s reflections point to contentment with life beyond the game.
