The end of an era has arrived. Quarterback Derek Carr has decided to hang up his cleats after an 11-year career-nine seasons with the Raiders and the last two with the New Orleans Saints. A complicated injury precipitated the veteran’s decision, and he bids farewell without ever having hoisted a championship trophy.
Carr entered the NFL as the 36th overall pick in the 2014 Draft, selected by the then-Oakland Raiders. The Bakersfield Christian product spent his first nine seasons wearing the iconic black and silver before signing with the Saints for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
During his career, Carr was named to the Pro Bowl four times. He completed 3,765 passes on 5,785 attempts, totaling 41,245 yards, 257 touchdowns, and 112 interceptions. Unfortunately, he never reached the Super Bowl, with his deepest postseason runs ending in a pair of wild-card game appearances with the Raiders.
The injury that ended Carr’s career
In late March, while intensifying his preparation for the 2025 season, Carr began experiencing pain in his right shoulder. He had only recently ramped up his throwing regimen after recovering from a concussion and a left-hand injury sustained in December.
After undergoing tests, the Saints’ medical staff determined that Carr had suffered a labral tear and was experiencing significant degenerative changes in his rotator cuff. Surgery was an option, but it did not guarantee a return to his previous strength and performance levels.
After consulting with his representatives, team doctors, outside medical experts, and his wife Heather, Carr decided that retiring was in the best interest of his health, family, and franchise.
Derek Carr’s goodbye
“After deep reflection, prayer, and discussions with Heather, I have decided to retire from the National Football League,” Carr announced in a statement. “For more than eleven years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience.”
He acknowledged that finding the words to express his gratitude was difficult. “To all my teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials, and especially the fans-you made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.”
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