Retired Derek Carr: Didn't want to 'just take the Saints money'

Derek Carr announced his retirement last month, a decision that saw him forgo $30 million by opting against shoulder surgery.

Had he gone under the knife, the veteran quarterback still would have been paid by the New Orleans Saints despite being sidelined for the duration of the 2025 season.

"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 in a story published on Wednesday.

"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 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."

The Saints disclosed that Carr had a labral tear and "significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff."

Carr, 34, signed a four-year, $150 million contract with New Orleans in 2023.

"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."

The Saints selected quarterback Tyler Shough in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft in April. They also have 2024 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler and 2023 fourth-round selection Jake Haener on the roster.

Carr was 14-13 as the starter in New Orleans over two seasons, although he was limited to 10 games in 2024 due to injuries.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Carr threw for 41,245 yards and 257 touchdowns against 112 interceptions in 169 games for the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (2014-22) and Saints. He was selected by the Raiders in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Fresno State.

--Field Level Media