FINAL PLAY

Top-Earning NFL QB Abruptly Retires After Shoulder Injury

New Orleans Saints player is undergoing shoulder surgery to repair a labral tear and damage to his rotator cuff.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr abruptly announced his retirement after suffering a devastating shoulder injury. Carr, 34, released a statement Saturday explaining that he had decided to permanently step away from the game after much “prayer and in discussion” with his wife. “For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience,” Carr said. “It’s difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials, and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.” Carr was a second-round draft pick in 2014, and he spent nine of his 11 NFL seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, playing in four Pro Bowls. He has played in one playoff game and has earned an estimated $195.6 million as the No. 16 highest-paid player in NFL history, according to Spotrac.com. Carr reportedly began experiencing shoulder pain in late March on the heels of suffering a concussion and left-hand injury in December 20224. The official social media accounts for the Saints reposted Carr’s statement.