NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Saints veteran starting quarterback Derek Carr is retiring because of a labral tear in his right shoulder and “significant degenerative changes” to his rotator cuff, the team announced Saturday.
Carr, 34, has played for 11 pro seasons since being selected out of Fresno State by the then-Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.
He was acquired by the Saints as a free agent in 2023 but had mixed results in New Orleans, going 14-13 as a starter while struggling through oblique, hand and head injuries that caused him to miss seven games last season.
Carr, who was entering the third year of a four-year, $150 million contract, experienced unexpected pain in his throwing shoulder when he began to ramp up training on his own this offseason. That led to the diagnosis which now has cut short his career.
“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 Saints said in a written announcement.
The Saints did not acknowledge Carr's injury until the day before this year's NFL draft in late April. Carr did not speak publicly about the injury until a few days later, when he delivered a guest sermon at a Las Vegas church. In that sermon, Carr said his critics were “lying” about him when they questioned the unusual timing of the injury, as well as both the team's and Carr's initial reticence to address it openly or answer questions about it.
Carr has career passing totals of 41,245 yards, 257 touchdowns and 112 interceptions. The four-time Pro Bowler retires with a 77-92 regular-season record as a starter, 0-1 in the playoffs.
Carr said he made his decision in consultation with his wife, Heather, and “upon reflection of prayer.”
“For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience,” Carr said. “It’s difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special."
“I sleep well knowing that I gave my teammates, my coaches, and my cities my all,” Carr added.
The decision also comes after New Orleans, heading into its first season with Kellen Moore as coach, used a high second-round draft choice to select Louisville’s Tyler Shough.
Now Shough, who learned of Carr's decision just before taking the field for a rookie camp practice on Saturday, will have a chance to compete for a starting job.
“All I want is an opportunity,” said the 26-year-old Shough, who, in part because of injuries, spent seven years at the college level with three programs, starting with Oregon and Texas Tech. “I've been at points in my career where I would just be dying to get on the field because I was injured. I was a backup before and I was a starter. So, I know a lot of those roles and what it looks like, and I think I can operate well in any of them."
"I'm just really excited for that opportunity to go out there and prove myself,” he added.
Other QBs on the Saints roster include second-year pro Spencer Rattler and third-year player Jake Haener, who did not post a victory between them in seven games last season, six of which Rattler started.
Carr's retirement "will provide some of those younger quarterbacks a chance to just get ready from a rep standpoint and opportunity standpoint,” Moore said. “Obviously, those guys will be ready and fired up for that.”
Moore was noncommittal about the possibility of bringing in an established veteran QB through free agency.
“We'll certainly have awareness of it,” Moore said. “We're ready if the opportunity presents itself.”
Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1966, just 12 quarterbacks who were not drafted in the first round have started season-openers as rookies. One of them was Carr. Another was the Cowboys' Dak Prescott in 2016, when Moore was a reserve QB in Dallas.
Prescott “was obviously a fourth-round pick and probably wasn't anticipating being a starter that year," noted Moore, who also coached Prescott as Dallas' QBs coach in 2018 and as offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2022. "These guys all come from different paths."
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New Orleans Saints quarterbacks Tyler Shough (6) and Hunter Dekkers (18) run through drills during the NFL football team's rookie minicamp in Metairie, La., Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
FILE - New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) reacts after his first down carry in the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. The (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
The Carolina Panthers are NFC South champions for the first time in 10 years.
The Panthers (8-9) clinched the division title when the Falcons beat the Saints 19-17 on Sunday to eliminate the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Led by second-year coach Dave Canales and third-year quarterback Bryce Young, the Panthers are the NFC's No. 4 seed and will host either the Rams (11-5) or 49ers (12-5). It's their first playoff appearance since 2017, when they lost a wild-card game two years after they went 15-1 and lost the Super Bowl.
The Buccaneers (8-9) beat Carolina on Saturday to stay alive for an extra day but lost a three-team tiebreaker with the Falcons also finishing 8-9. Tampa Bay started 6-2 before losing seven of nine, failing to win its fifth straight division title.
The Jacksonville Jaguars won the AFC South with a 41-7 rout of Tennessee. Rookie coach Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence led the Jaguars to a 13-4 record, a major turnaround after going 4-13 in 2024.
The road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through Seattle. The Seahawks secured the No. 1 seed and won the NFC West with a 13-3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night in a showdown that had major ramifications. The 49ers could have won the division but instead will be the No. 5 or 6 seed.
While Sam Darnold and the Seahawks (14-3) earned a first-round bye, Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and the injury-depleted 49ers missed an opportunity to play at home the rest of the way. Levi's Stadium, which is San Francisco's home field, hosts the Super Bowl on Feb. 8.
Thirteen of the 14 playoff berths have been secured. The AFC's No. 1 seed is still up for grabs and there’s a winner-take-all game for the AFC North between the Ravens and Steelers to wrap up the regular season.
The Broncos (13-3), Patriots (13-3), Jaguars (13-4), Texans (12-5), Chargers (11-5) and Bills (11-5) have secured playoff spots in the AFC.
The Seahawks (14-3), Bears (11-5), Eagles (11-5), Panthers, Rams (11-4), 49ers (12-5) and Packers (9-6-1) are heading to the NFC playoffs.
New England won its first division title since Tom Brady led the franchise to 11 straight from 2009-19. The Patriots would secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win over Miami and a loss or tie by Denver against the Chargers or a tie against the Dolphins and a loss by the Broncos. The Patriots could finish with the No. 1, 2 or 3 seed.
Buffalo’s run of five consecutive division crowns ended, but the Bills will be the No. 5, 6 or 7 seed.
The Steelers beat the Ravens 27-22 at Baltimore on Dec. 7. They have to beat them again or tie them on Sunday night without wide receiver DK Metcalf to get into the playoffs.
Derrick Henry and backup quarterback Tyler Huntley led the Ravens to a win at Green Bay last Saturday night that kept Baltimore in the race and made Pittsburgh’s loss to Cleveland the next day matter. Lamar Jackson is expected to return from a back injury to start for the Ravens, who are 3 1/2-point favorites on the road, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
The division winner will be the No. 4 seed and host the Texans.
Jacksonville won the division. The Jaguars will finish with the No. 1, 2 or 3 seed.
The Texans secured the No. 5 seed with a 38-30 victory over Indianapolis.
The Broncos have already won the division, ending Kansas City’s nine-year run. Denver can secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win against the Chargers or a loss by New England to Miami. If the Broncos lose, they could fall to No. 2 or 3.
Los Angeles will be the No. 5, 6 or 7 seed.
The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles became the first team to win this division in consecutive seasons in two decades. They’ll be the NFC’s No. 2 or 3 seed. If Philadelphia, which is resting key starters, beats Washington and Chicago loses to Detroit, the Eagles will be the No. 2 seed.
The Bears clinched their first division championship since 2018. They will be the No. 2 seed with a win over the Lions. If they lose, they'll need the Eagles to lose to the Commanders.
The Packers are locked into the No. 7 seed.
The Panthers are division champions and the No. 4 seed.
The Seahawks earned the No. 1 seed.
The Rams and 49ers will be the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds. If Los Angeles beats Arizona, the Rams will be the 5 and the 49ers the 6. If the Rams lose, San Francisco gets the fifth seed.
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) runs the ball past Tennessee Titans outside linebackers Truman Jones (56) and Jaylen Harrell, far right, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, right, hands off to running back Rico Dowdle (5) during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas, left, is congratulated by safety Ty Okada (39) and linebacker Ernest Jones IV after intercepting a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (17) makes a catch over Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Tykee Smith (23) during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (18) reacts after his touchdown catch over Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Benjamin Morrison (21) during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) celebrates after recovering a fumble by Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
