Former Fresno State star quarterback Derek Carr is retiring from the NFL due to a shoulder injury.
The former Bulldog leaves professional football behind after 11 seasons in the league.
The big picture: The New Orleans Saints announced Saturday morning that Carr experienced pain in his right shoulder in late March when preparing for the 2025 season.
- That was the first time he threw a football at significant volume since recovering from a concussion and a left hand injury that he sustained during a game on Dec. 8, 2024.
- Carr immediately contacted the Saints’ medical team, and the ensuing scans showed that he suffered a labral tear and had significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff.
- The Saints said Carr considered surgery, which would have likely kept him out of the entire 2025 season and would not have guaranteed that he would return to a high level of strength and function, leading him to consult with his wife Heather about retirement.
What he’s saying: “Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with Heather, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League,” Carr said. “For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. 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. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.”
A look at his career: Carr played for Fresno State from 2009 to 2013, helping guide the Bulldogs to Mountain West titles in 2012 and 2013.
- His 12,842 passing yards and 113 passing touchdowns in college are the most in Fresno State history, and he also boasts the best statistical season in program history in 2013, when he threw for 5,082 yards and 50 touchdowns.
- The Oakland Raiders drafted Carr in the 2nd round of the 2014 NFL Draft with the 36th overall pick.
- Carr became the Raiders starting quarterback immediately, and in 2016 he helped lead the team to a 12-4 record, the first winning season for the Raiders since 2002.
- The Raiders retained Carr through their move to Las Vegas in 2020 and kept him as the starting quarterback through the 2022 season, after which he signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2023.
- Carr retires with 42,245 passing yards, 257 passing touchdowns and an overall record of 77-92.
- Carr was never able to enjoy the stability that other quarterbacks around the have, having played for six different head coaches with the Raiders and two with the Saints. He also had four different offensive coordinators with the Raiders and two with the Saints.
