Derek Carr explains retirement decision: 'I never played just for the money'
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr discovered he was dealing with a significant shoulder injury during the 2025 NFL offseason.
Carr spent months considering his options regarding the injury, including surgery to repair the labrum tear and rotator cuff damage or playing through the injury.
Ultimately, Carr wasn't comfortable with either option, so he decided to retire. The 34-year-old explained the logic of his decision in a recent interview with Front Office Sports.
"That part was tough because I didn’t want to have surgery and just sit there and – it sounds crazy but –just take the Saints money," Carr told Front Office Sports.
"I wouldn’t have been able to play if I had the surgery," he added. "And then if I tried to play with it, I wasn’t near 100 percent, and so that doesn’t help them, either. I just felt like it was the right thing to do for myself and for the team."
Carr's decision to walk away was costly. He had two seasons remaining on the four-year, $150 million deal he signed with the Saints during the 2023 NFL offseason. New Orleans allowed him to keep a $10 million roster bonus awarded in March, two months before his retirement. Still, Carr forfeited his $30 million salary for the upcoming season as well as the potential money owed to him in 2026.
That said, Carr – who earned an estimated $195.7 million during his career, per Spotrac.com – made it clear money wasn't what concerned him most when making his decision.
"I never played just for the money," he said. "I had a whole bunch of people tell me how crazy I was, and 'Man, I would never have done that.' That’s all cool, but I’ve gained all these things that the world has to offer, and it doesn’t really do anything for your heart. I knew my heart was at peace, and that’s really all that mattered."
What's next for Carr? He is open to once again following in his older brother David Carr's footsteps by pursuing a career in broadcasting, likely at the college level. The 34-year-old also is open to coaching in the future.
However, Carr is currently adjusting to retirement lifestyle – and is enjoying every minute of it.
"My agent literally texted me a few days ago and he said, 'Hey, just checking it in. How’s everything? You still feel comfortable with the decision?' And I sent him a picture of me on the beach with my two kids playing. And I said, 'This beats an OTA any day.' And he said, 'Yeah, I thought so,'" Carr said. "So, I’m doing great and have thoroughly enjoyed being home."