Derek Carr had an awkward offseason that culminated with him retiring. However, prior to his retirement, there were talks that he could go to another team, but the New Orleans Saints ultimately decided to keep him as QB1 for the 2025 season. Then, it was reported that Carr had a shoulder injury that would force him to miss the season, and that ultimately led to his surprising retirement.
With everyone still trying to wrap their head around the last few months for Carr, ESPN reporters Jeremy Fowler and Katherine Terrell went searching for answers. In a recent article, the two shared some details that could explain why Carr suddenly hung up his cleats. The main detail is that the former quarterback wasn’t on the best of terms with the Saints.
Fowler explains that prior to free agency, a Carr representative was speaking with other teams about potential interest in the veteran quarterback, despite still being under contract with New Orleans. However, the Saints didn’t really care, according to Fowler, but the team didn’t give him permission to do so. The question, though, is why was Carr ready to move on.
Fowler says a team source believes the quarterback had a great relationship with the team’s former staff, and he wanted them to return. However, the Saints went in a different direction, and Derek Carr was interested in doing the same.
"Only Carr could say why he would have been seeking an exit from New Orleans, but those around him have theories. 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."Jeremy Fowler (ESPN)
Derek Carr and the Saints weren’t on good terms this offseason
It makes sense for Carr to be disappointed that the coaches he built a rapport with were no longer around. However, that’s the business. Alvin Kamara wanted Darren Rizzi to be the team’s next head coach, but that didn’t happen. At the end of the day, teams just have to move forward with whatever the franchise decides.
Carr was probably on board to move forward, seeing that he really didn’t have any other choice, but the shoulder injury halted any progress that would’ve been made. Now, Derek Carr is retried, and the Saints are moving forward with a trio of young quarterbacks.