Exclusive: Derek Carr’s Secret Team Talks Before Shocking Retirement Reveal Hidden Future Plans

Derek Carr’s NFL journey came to an unexpected crossroads last week—he pulled the plug on his career, but not without attempting one last Houdini act out of New Orleans first. Believe me, stories like this don’t just happen in a vacuum. Behind the scenes, a rep for Carr made rounds, softly sounding out a couple of teams, trying to feel the room for a comeback. Problem is, the Saints never gave the green light for those chats, which, let’s be honest, kind of threw a wrench in the works. And when you factor in Carr’s hefty $30 million guaranteed dough, plus a $10 million roster bonus—oh, and a gnarly right labrum tear with some serious rotator cuff decay—it suddenly makes sense why things flatlined. Meanwhile, the Saints, well, they weren’t exactly clutching their pearls over the news. New coach Kellen Moore didn’t even cozy up to Carr in person, sending mixed vibes about the future quarterback situation. Now, Carr’s taking a well-earned break with his family, dodging surgery, while New Orleans looks ahead— their eyes on second-round pick Tyler Shough and what might be next under center. It’s a messy, labyrinthine exit, but sometimes that’s just how the NFL dance goes. <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story//id/45126722/new-orleans-saints-derek-carr-retirement-injury-questions-contract” target=”blank” rel=”noopener”>LEARN MORE

ESPN reports that the Saints did not provide Carr with permission to speak with other teams, as required by NFL rules. Carr now is taking time with his family, having avoided surgery, and the Saints are moving on with second-round pick Tyler Shough among those competing for the starting job.Derek Carr retired from the NFL last week but apparently not before he looked for an exit out of New Orleans to continue his career.The Saints likely weren’t heartbroken over Carr’s decision, with Carr and the new staff lacking a relationship. New coach Kellen Moore was sending mixed signals about having Carr as the team’s starter in 2025 and, in fact, he never even met the quarterback in person, per ESPN.But the conversations never went anywhere — with Carr’s million guaranteed salary and million roster bonus not helping his attractiveness — and a torn right labrum and “significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff” prompted Carr to call it quits.Katherine Terrell and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN report that a Carr “representative” spoke to at least two teams about potential interest in the veteran quarterback. The “indirect” contact let those front offices know Carr was open to playing for a new team.