The NFL world got a major shakeup two days ago when Derek Carr announced he’s hanging up his helmet. The New Orleans Saints QB is retiring from football, a move that surprised many. Carr explained how a nagging right shoulder injury played a significant role in his decision.

Back in March, while gearing up for the 2025 season, Carr started feeling shoulder pain. After some checkups, doctors discovered a labral tear along with serious wear and tear on his rotator cuff. In a statement released on the Saints’ official website, Carr shared that he consulted with doctors about surgery, but the risks were too high. Surgery might have kept him out of the 2025 season, and it wasn’t even a guarantee he’d fully regain strength or function. So, he decided retirement was his best option.

Fans, however, had quite a lot to say about the whole thing. Some weren’t exactly subtle about sharing their opinions. On Sunday, Fletcher Mackel posted on X, “It’s amazing how fan confidence in the Saints has eroded so quickly since the glory years of Sean Payton & Drew Brees. Saturday, our news department got dozens of fans reacting to the Derek Carr retirement news. This one basically sums up the feelings of the Who Dat Nation.” One of those reactions? Someone said, “This is a message from God.” Who knows if it is or not, but regardless, the team’s already on the hunt for Carr’s replacement.

The Saints are stepping into a new chapter with Kellen Moore as their head coach. Moore was brought on board after his success with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he helped them win Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs as their offensive coordinator. Originally, it looked like Carr was going to lead Moore’s offense, health permitting. Unfortunately, that never happened.

Carr shared his thoughts on X (also known as Twitter) through the Saints: “Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with Heather, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League,” he wrote. “For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. 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.”

It’s heartbreaking for fans and the team because, when healthy, Carr could have been a strong fit for Moore’s offense. He’s had moments of brilliance throughout his career, but sadly, health issues always seemed to get in the way. Now, it’s time for Moore and GM Mickey Loomis to figure out who’ll take over as QB1. While Carr’s sudden retirement shocked everyone, there are still some options on the table. First in line? Second-round draft pick Tyler Shough. But let’s be honest—not everyone is on board with this decision. The fans aren’t buying the “message from God” thing and instead have taken to bashing Mickey Loomis—classic Who Dat fashion!

Mickey Loomis: Fan reactions after Carr’s big decision

Derek Carr’s unexpected retirement has caused a total meltdown among New Orleans Saints fans, and GM Mickey Loomis is definitely feeling the heat. After tearing his labrum in March, Carr announced he was calling it quits, citing medical advice that surgery wouldn’t guarantee a full recovery. Months of back-and-forth with doctors, his wife Heather, and the Saints’ medical staff led to this bombshell decision. Now, fans are losing their minds online. One fan video, titled Message of God, basically sent everyone into a frenzy. And while the loss of Carr hurts, Saints fans seem more fired up about blaming the entire organization. They’re coming for Loomis, hard.

Social media went wild after the announcement, with one user on X (formerly Twitter) saying, “Not just Loomis, but Jeff Ireland, Gayle Benson, and the whole medical staff.” Another said, “Loomis doing party,” and someone else added, “So quickly losing your HOF Coach & QB and being left with Dennis Allen, and this guy deserves a vote of confidence? Look past the results, right?” It’s clear the frustration runs deep. In Carr’s official statement on the Saints’ website, he explained that while surgery was an option, it would have jeopardized his 2025 season and wouldn’t guarantee his arm would ever be as strong as it needed to be. Ultimately, that reality forced him into retirement—and yeah, fans are not handling it well.

The 34-year-old QB from Bakersfield wraps up an impressive 11-year NFL career. His last two seasons with the Saints saw him throw for 6,023 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 13 picks in 27 regular-season games. He ended with a 14-13 record as a starter in New Orleans. Still, Saints fans aren’t exactly optimistic. As one fan put it: “Without Derek Carr, the Saints are now the worst team in the NFL. And it’s not close.” Another piled on, “It’s been 4 years since we’ve sniffed the playoffs. This shouldn’t be surprising at all.” So yeah, what’s next for the Saints? Hard to say, but they’ve got some decisions to make. Carr wasn’t just any QB; replacing him isn’t going to be a walk in the park. It’s a big question mark for this team moving forward.

For those keeping track of Carr’s career legacy, he was drafted by the then-Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Fresno State (which retired his number in 2017). He spent nine years with the Raiders and played a key role in their transition to Las Vegas in 2020. Carr holds multiple franchise records with the Raiders, including most passing yards and touchdown passes. Over his career, the four-time Pro Bowler racked up 41,245 passing yards, 257 touchdowns. And 112 interceptions in 169 regular-season games. His career record: 77-92 as a starter. While the Saints will likely look toward finding a replacement ASAP, one thing is clear—Derek Carr’s retirement caught everyone off guard.