Derek Carr

Derek Carr is an American former professional football quarterback who played 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He has played for the Oakland Raiders / Las Vegas Raiders for a total of 9 seasons, and 2 seasons for the New Orleans Saints.

Player Profile, High School, and College Career

Derek Dallas Carr was born on March 28, 1991, in Fresno, California, USA. The quarterback stands 191 cm tall, and played at a listed weight of 98 kg. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, David, who was also an NFL quarterback, Derek developed a deep understanding of the game from a young age.

He attended Bakersfield Christian High School in Bakersfield, California, where he stood out as an elite passing prospect. Committing to California State University, Fresno (Fresno State), Carr played for the Bulldogs from 2009 to 2013.

His collegiate career was highly decorated; he secured First-team All-Mountain West Conference honors twice and won the prestigious Sammy Baugh Trophy.

During his 2013 senior campaign, he led the NCAA in both passing yards and passing touchdowns. His profound impact on the university's football program was immortalized when Fresno State officially retired his No. 4 jersey.

Professional Career

Carr was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round (36th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.

He immediately stepped into the starting role as a rookie and quickly established himself as the face of the franchise. In 2016, Carr enjoyed a breakout season, engineering multiple fourth-quarter comebacks and leading the Raiders to a 12-4 record and their first playoff appearance since 2002, earning Pro Bowl honors in the process.

Over his nine seasons with the Raiders (which included the team's relocation to Las Vegas), he became a four-time Pro Bowl selection and set every major franchise passing record, including total passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completions.

Following a disappointing 2022 campaign where the team failed to meet expectations, Carr mutually agreed to part ways with the Raiders, marking the end of an era. Ahead of the 2023 season, he signed a lucrative contract with the New Orleans Saints. He spent two seasons as the starting quarterback in New Orleans, navigating various offensive systems and battling through physical adversity.

Retirement

In 2025, after 11 grueling seasons in the NFL, Carr officially announced his retirement from professional football due to a severe rotator cuff injury that severely limited his throwing mechanics.

He concluded his impressive career with 41,245 passing yards, 257 passing touchdowns, and a career completion percentage of 65.1%. He is widely remembered for his toughness, unshakeable locker room leadership, and resilience through franchise instability.

Career Highlights

• 4× Pro Bowl Selection – 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022
• 2013 – Sammy Baugh Trophy winner
• 2013 - NCAA leader in passing yards and touchdowns (Fresno State)