Derek Carr’s availability had already been in question for the 2025 season. However, while many were prepared for a late start to the year for the New Orleans Saints quarterback, few were expecting him to pull the closest thing to Andrew Luck since Luck’s stunning retirement with the Indianapolis Colts in August 2019.
Carr’s exit will be examined for years. The quarterback himself might replay the decision in his head after the fact for even longer. However, while surprising, Carr’s retirement happened due to factors partially outside of his control.
Derek Carr’s Reason for Retirement
The Saints announced Carr’s retirement in a social media post on Saturday, May 10. In the post, New Orleans explained that Carr stepped away due to the shoulder injury reported earlier this offseason.
Derek Carr has announced his retirement.
In late March, while ramping up his preparation for the 2025 season, Derek experienced pain in his right shoulder. It was his first time throwing a football at significant volume since recovering from both a concussion and left hand… pic.twitter.com/SrcJEzDDnU
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) May 10, 2025
“In late March, while ramping up his preparation for the 2025 season, Derek experienced pain in his right shoulder. It was his first time throwing a football at significant volume since recovering from both a concussion and left hand injury sustained during play on December 8, 2024. Derek immediately contacted the Saints Medical Team,” the post read.
The post explained that “degenerative changes” had occurred to Carr’s rotator cuff as well as a labral tear.
“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 post continued. “Upon consultation with his wife, Heather, Derek has decided it is in the best interests of both his family and the Saints organization to retire from the National Football League.”
Looking at the big picture, Carr’s injury could have taken him until after he turned 35 to heal. That would leave him with one season left on his current deal, according to Spotrac.
By that point, the Saints likely would have decided to move on, as they had already hinted by drafting a quarterback to replace him during the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Carr was already in a stage of his contract where the Saints could save money by cutting him, so if he did fight to rejoin the NFL, the odds were high that he would either risk further injuries as he got older or be forced to rejoin the league as a backup QB.
Carr appeared to decide to walk away instead.
Where the Carr-Less Saints Go From Here
Carr’s exit leaves the Saints with second-round rookie quarterback Tyler Shough seemingly in the lead to start in 2025. Of course, there’s a chance New Orleans could look in a new direction for a veteran QB to buy time for Shough.
Aaron Rodgers, who finished 21st in PFSN’s QB+ metric last season, is still available. However, if the Saints don’t elect to go with a veteran quarterback to lead the charge, they can set up a competition.
The Saints have three young QBs on the roster in Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and Shough. Rattler and Haener saw the field in 2024, tallying seven starts between the two. Rattler went 0-6, while Haener went 0-1.
Shough, meanwhile, is coming off the most productive college season of his career, throwing for 23 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2024.