Former Fresno State star Derek Carr walked away from $30 million rather than accept payment while unable to perform at full capacity for the New Orleans Saints. (Shutterstock)
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Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr chose retirement over collecting a paycheck while dealing with a serious shoulder injury, citing his moral compass as the deciding factor, according to ESPN.
The veteran signal-caller announced his retirement May 10 after team doctors diagnosed him with a labral tear and “significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff.” Facing the choice between surgery or playing through pain, the former Fresno State star walked away from football entirely.
Financial Sacrifice for Integrity
“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. And then if I tried to play with it, I wasn’t near 100%, and so that doesn’t help them either.”
By retiring, Carr forfeited his $30 million base salary for the 2025 season, though he retained a $10 million roster bonus. The quarterback had signed a four-year, $150 million deal with New Orleans in 2023.
Saints Move Forward
With Carr’s departure, the Saints are conducting a quarterback competition featuring second-round draft pick Tyler Shough, second-year pro Spencer Rattler, and another former Fresno State standout, Jake Haener. According to Saints coach Kellen Moore, the organization learned about Carr’s injury in March and prepared accordingly during the draft process.
“He did everything he could,” Moore said of Carr. “As he’s gone through this, he’s communicated extremely well.”
Future Plans
Carr remains open to broadcasting opportunities, particularly at the college level, and hasn’t ruled out coaching. For now, he’s savoring family time away from football’s demands.
“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,'” Carr told Front Office Sports.
Read more at ESPN
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