Derek Carr's retirement confirmed what many already knew.
In the summer of 2023, the New Orleans Saints were in search of a franchise quarterback, while Derek Carr was seeking an NFL team that would provide an opportunity to revitalize his career. Initially, the pairing appeared as a potential match made in heaven; however, it quickly became evident to both the Saints organization and its fan base that the outcome would end in disappointment and capped off by an ugly divorce.
Prior to Carr's arrival, the Saints had struggled to find stability at the quarterback position following the retirement of future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees. The team cycled through several starting quarterbacks, including Trevor Siemian, Andy Dalton, Ian Book, Taysom Hill, and Jameis Winston, with limited success.
Head coach Dennis Allen and the front office, facing scrutiny after consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance, were under significant pressure to make a move. With a pressing need at quarterback and his position in jeopardy, Allen turned to a familiar face, Derek Carr - the quarterback he had drafted during his tenure as head coach of the Oakland Raiders.
Although Carr was without a doubt the top quarterback available in the 2023 free agent market, his reunion with Allen raised a red-flag from the outset. Their previous tenure in Oakland was marked by limited success. Carr began his career with an 0–4 record, and following a 38–14 loss to the Miami Dolphins, Allen was relieved of his head coaching duties.
Upon Derek Carr’s arrival in New Orleans, public opinion among the “Who Dat Nation” was divided regarding his four-year, $150 million contract. While some fans believed that consistent quarterback play could return the Saints to playoff contention, others expressed concern that the addition of one of head coach Dennis Allen’s former players might further destabilize a locker room that had reportedly begun to lose confidence in Allen during the latter part of the 2022 regular season.
To Carr’s credit, he made a favorable impression during his introductory press conference, in which he addressed the media and introduced his family to the New Orleans community. This marked the beginning of a brief “honeymoon phase” between Carr and the Saints’ fan base. Former offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael echoed the fan's optimism telling Carr during pregame warmups ahead of his debut, “There hasn’t been a lot of excitement around this place in a long time".
That excitement continued through the first few weeks of the season with the Saints claiming victories against the Titans and Panthers to begin the Derek Carr era of New Orleans Saints football. In Week 3, the Saints blew a 17-point lead losing to the Packers, which lead to losses in three of the next four games and the second red flag in the relationship between the Saints and Carr.
During the New Orleans Saints 31-24 loss at home to the Jaguars, Carr was seen multiple times expressing his frustration about the team's offensive struggles. These frustrations bubbled over and were on full display on a third-down play where Carr and wide receiver Chris Olave appeared to be on different pages, leading to the quarterback to yell at Olave after the play.
Though, there had been reports of Carr's relationships with teammates being "fractured" during his time with the Raiders, this interaction, caught by the Fox broadcast crew and NFL Films, was the first time in New Orleans where Carr's actions would raise concerns.
Over the following five weeks, fan sentiment toward Derek Carr began to sour, and the brief honeymoon phase was clearly over. Although New Orleans secured two consecutive victories after Carr’s emotional on-field outburst against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team followed with a three-game losing streak, including a divisional loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Frustration among the fan base reached a boiling point in Week 13 when the Saints returned home to face the Detroit Lions. Trailing 21–0, New Orleans turned to fan-favorite Taysom Hill, who took snaps at quarterback in a specialty offensive package designed specifically for him.
The former BYU standout was met with roaring applause from the Superdome crowd as he checked in for Carr. Moments later, when Carr returned to the field to resume quarterback duties, he was greeted by loud boos from the home crowd.
The passionate and vocal fan base continued to express their displeasure throughout the game, with every quarterback substitution drawing a consistent reaction: cheers for Hill and boos for Carr.
The New Orleans Saints closed out the regular season winning four of their last five, missing the postseason by a single game for the second consecutive season. Despite a 48-17 blow out victory over Atlanta and 14 passing touchdowns in the final five weeks of the season, Carr's relationship with New Orleans had taken a massive hit.
One that many thought he could not return from. Some media members, like Athlon Sports' Bob Rose, even going as far to say that even if Carr led the team to a Super Bowl title he was unsure if that could win over the fan base.
Carr's poor play, questionable comments, and lack of relatability to locals made for a mountain to climb going into the 2024 NFL regular season. One that was too large for even the greatest players in NFL history to climb, but Carr and company started the 2025 NFL season on a tremendous high. In first two weeks, the New Orleans Saints scored 91 points, setting a new NFL record.
With dominant wins against the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys the Black and Gold suddenly found themselves in the national media spotlight. Pundits and analysts were projecting the Saints as possible Super Bowl contenders and praised Dennis Allen's new offensive coaching staff for the team's strong turnaround.
In the first two games of the 2024 NFL regular season, Derek Carr appeared to regain his confidence. He demonstrated poise in the pocket, made efficient decisions, and avoided overextending plays. His teammates responded positively, displaying trust in his leadership. Over that two week span, Carr recorded 443 passing yards, five touchdown passes, and one rushing touchdown.
However, both Carr and the Saints experienced a quick end to their second honeymoon, effectively ending the renewed optimism surrounding the team. After beginning the season with a 2–0 record, the Saints lost four consecutive games, and Carr’s early momentum in winning over the fan base quickly faded after embarrassing outings against the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons.
The nail in the coffin for Carr came after a narrow 23–22 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, which ultimately led to the dismissal of head coach Dennis Allen— his biggest advocate within the organization.
At the conclusion of the season, speculation emerged regarding Carr’s future with the organization. Despite two years remaining on his contract, it appeared likely that he would remain with the team through the 2025 season. With the Super Bowl scheduled to take place in New Orleans, Carr was expected to spend considerable time in the city, focusing on rehabilitation and maintaining a presence at the team facility during the coaching search.
However, by February, Carr was notably absent from New Orleans. Reports indicated that he had purchased a residence in California and was in the process of moving his wife and children back to the West Coast. This move contributed to the perception that Carr was distancing himself, both physically and emotionally, from the organization.
Throughout the offseason, Carr refrained from making public statements regarding the Saints or the team’s head coaching search. When asked about his contract, however, the eleven-year NFL veteran stated that while he would not accept a pay cut, he was open to restructuring his deal in a way that could benefit the team. Carr emphasized his belief that his on-field performance warranted his current salary, thereby ending any speculation regarding a potential reduction in pay.
In March, the New Orleans Saints and Derek Carr ultimately agreed to a restructured contract; however, this agreement followed an exploration of the trade market, according to reporting by Nick Underhill. Several weeks later, it was revealed that Carr's season-ending injury had also resulted in damage to his shoulder, an injury serious enough to potentially sideline him for the entire 2025 NFL season. Although Carr and the organization remained in regular communication regarding his health status, the news came as a surprise to the fan base.
Shortly after the injury update was made public, Carr announced his retirement from professional football. His announcement, shared via an online post, prompted mixed reactions. Many members of the “Who Dat Nation” expressed relief that Carr would no longer serve as the starting quarterback for the Saints, effectively bringing to a close the Derek Carr era in New Orleans.
Drew Brees said it best, “If you love New Orleans, New Orleans will love you back.” Unfortunately for both the New Orleans Saints and Derek Carr, it never truly felt as though Carr embraced the city in that way. Regardless of on-field results, one of the defining aspects of the Saints' identity is their deep, authentic connection with their fan base...a relationship that is as unique as the city itself.
This bond is not something that can be manufactured or imitated. In New Orleans, genuine affection for the city and its people is both expected and recognized. The fan base has long supported players and coaches not only for their success but also for their commitment to representing the city with pride and sincerity. While winning is the cure to all problems, the loyalty of New Orleans fans is often rooted in their belief that those on the field are giving their full effort for the community. In this respect, Carr appeared to not embrace that in which the city values in a franchise leader.
Carr was never the figure that New Orleans needed at the helm. He often came across as unrelatable, lacked visible accountability, and seldom used his platform to connect with the community in a meaningful way. I know that Carr had hoped for a different outcome. It is also clear that New Orleans faithful wanted the partnership to succeed, and that the Saints organization had invested in the hope of it evolving into a partnership that ended with another deep playoff run. However, in hindsight, it is now apparent that the relationship between Derek Carr & New Orleans was a relationship doomed from the start.
