Tyler Shough’s reaction to sudden Saints chance after Derek Carr’s shock retirement

Derek Carr’s abrupt retirement likely will accelerate the Tyler Shough era with the Saints.

The rookie second-round draft pick suddenly will compete with Spencer Rattler and Jack Haener for the starting quarterback nod in New Orleans.

The 34-year-old Carr retired Saturday due to an injured right shoulder, with the Saints revealing that the 11-year NFL veteran suffered a labral tear and “significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff.”

Tyler Shough throws during Saints rookie camp on May 10, 2025. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience,” Carr said in a statement. “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.”

The Saints drafted Shough out of Louisville with the 40th overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, making him the third quarterback off the board after first-round picks Cam Ward (first overall to the Titans) and Jaxson Dart (25th to the Giants).

“We certainly felt like adding a quarterback to that room would’ve been valuable under all circumstances,” Saints head coach Kellen Moore said Saturday, adding that all three quarterbacks will get a chance to compete for the starting spot. “We’re going to let all three of these guys roll, and they’ve all earned these opportunities.

“We’ll let Jake, Spencer and Tyler, all three, go through this process. Again, we’ll play patience, let these guys compete, let them get into training camp and naturally [the competition will] take care of itself.”

Shough threw for 3,195 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions last season at Louisville after also spending time at Oregon and Texas Tech. He said he learned of Carr’s retirement earlier Saturday morning.

Derek Carr announced his retirement on Saturday. AP

“I think that’s all you can ask for is an opportunity at any position, and I’m going to treat it the same way, as if, whoever was on the roster, I’ve got to continue to grow and get better and do my best to elevate the quarterback room,” Shough said.

Rattler, a fifth-round pick in 2024, made six starts (all losses) for the Saints last season with Carr sidelined, with four touchdown passes and five interceptions. Haener, the team’s fourth-round pick in 2023, also started one game last season.