It had been increasingly apparent that Derek Carr’s long-term future with the New Orleans Saints was uncertain, but his decision to retire from the NFL still came as a major surprise.
Carr was under a sizable contract with the Saints but faced the prospect of shoulder surgery. Rather than undergo a potentially risky procedure, he opted to step away from the game entirely.
While Carr will be best remembered for his years with the Las Vegas Raiders, he spent his final two seasons in New Orleans. The Saints had hoped he would be the steady presence under center they’d been searching for since Drew Brees’ retirement, but that vision ultimately fell short.
While Carr ultimately didn’t become the long-term answer for the Saints, Drew Brees had some supportive words following his retirement.
“Obviously, a bit surprising, just being so early in his career,” Brees said, via NOLA.com. “Look, there’s life after football. There’s that second chapter. … It seems like [Carr and his family] really put down roots in Vegas. I know he’s got aspirations to perhaps build a school, a church, pastor that. He’s obviously very involved in the church, his community.”
Brees’ comments reflect both respect for Carr’s career and an understanding of his decision to pursue a different path outside of football.
“So at times, you just feel called to do other things. And football was that unique chapter in your life, but there’s so much more after football. It seemed like he was ready to take that next step…” Brees added.
His remarks underscore the idea that while Carr’s football career may have ended earlier than expected, he’s moving on with purpose — ready to embrace a new chapter centered on family, faith, and community involvement.
Carr Wanted Out of New Orleans
The partnership between Derek Carr and the New Orleans Saints appeared shaky from the beginning. Former head coach Dennis Allen was already on the hot seat when Carr arrived, and his eventual in-season firing only added to the instability.
Since Carr signed, the Saints have undergone significant changes as a franchise. According to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell and Jeremy Fowler, Carr had already grown disillusioned with the organization prior to announcing his retirement. The shifting team dynamics and uncertain leadership likely played a role in his decision to walk away from the game.
“Only Carr could say why he would have been seeking an exit from New Orleans, but those around him have theories,” Terrell and Fowler wrote. “One team source said Carr had a kinship with last season’s battery of offensive coaches, departed coordinator Klint Kubiak and quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko, and had hoped they would return. The head coach who drafted Carr as a Raider and brought him to New Orleans, Dennis Allen, was gone. The Saints’ plan to restructure Carr’s contract was another potential source of friction — Moore declined to comment on whether the team had asked Carr to take a pay cut. In any event, the belief among multiple people interviewed is that the Saints and Carr were not on the greatest of terms.”
This insight highlights the various factors that may have contributed to Carr’s growing dissatisfaction, from coaching changes to contract negotiations, ultimately shaping his decision to retire.
Door Still Open for Carr Comeback?
Even if Carr had wanted to continue playing for the Saints, his shoulder injury likely would have sidelined him for the season. That said, taking a year off could give him a chance to heal fully without undergoing surgery.
If he regains full health by next year, the temptation to return to the NFL could be significant. There will always be teams in need of a starting quarterback, and if one of those teams reaches out to Carr while he’s feeling strong, it might be tough for him to turn down the opportunity.
