Derek Carr's stunning decision to retire last month included forgoing $30 million by deciding not to undergo surgery, which would have kept the New Orleans Saints quarterback out for the 2025 regular season.
"That part was tough because I didn't want to have surgery and just sit there and -- it sounds crazy but -- just take the Saints money," Carr told David Rumsey of Front Office Sports.
Carr framed his May 10 decision to walk away as being in the best interest of all parties.
"I wouldn't have been able to play if I had the surgery," Carr said. "And then if I tried to play with it, I wasn't near 100%, and so that doesn't help them, either. I just felt like it was the right thing to do for myself and for the team."
The Saints and Carr came to the decision that the quarterback would retire, leaving $30 million guaranteed that he would have received in 2025, and the club wouldn't pursue the $10 million roster bonus that would have been forfeited by retiring.
"I never played just for the money," Carr said. "I had a whole bunch of people tell me how crazy I was, and, 'Man, I would never have done that.' That's all cool, but I've gained all these things that the world has to offer, and it doesn't really do anything for your heart. I knew my heart was at peace, and that's really all that mattered."
"That part was tough because I didn't want to have surgery and just sit there and -- it sounds crazy but -- just take the Saints money," Carr told David Rumsey of Front Office Sports.
Carr framed his May 10 decision to walk away as being in the best interest of all parties.
"I wouldn't have been able to play if I had the surgery," Carr said. "And then if I tried to play with it, I wasn't near 100%, and so that doesn't help them, either. I just felt like it was the right thing to do for myself and for the team."
The Saints and Carr came to the decision that the quarterback would retire, leaving $30 million guaranteed that he would have received in 2025, and the club wouldn't pursue the $10 million roster bonus that would have been forfeited by retiring.
"I never played just for the money," Carr said. "I had a whole bunch of people tell me how crazy I was, and, 'Man, I would never have done that.' That's all cool, but I've gained all these things that the world has to offer, and it doesn't really do anything for your heart. I knew my heart was at peace, and that's really all that mattered."
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