Derek Dallas Carr (born March 28, 1991) is an American football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints in the NFL. He played college football at Fresno State and was twice named first-team All-Mountain West Conference. The Oakland Raiders picked him in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.
Carr is a four-time Pro Bowler who led the Raiders to the playoffs in 2016, their first appearance since 2002, and again in 2021. After a disappointing 2022 season, Carr lost his starting job and agreed to be released by the Raiders. He left as the team’s leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and pass completions.
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Derek Dallas Carr |
| DOB (Age) | 28-03-1991 (33 yrs) |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.9 m) |
| Weight | 215 lbs (98 kgs) |
| Born | Bakersfield, CA |
| College | Fresno State University |
| Draft | 2014 – Rd: 2, Pick: 36 (OAK) |
| Debut | September 1, 2014 |
| Nickname | Road Warrior |
| Spouse | Heather Neel |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Nationality | American |
| Parents | Rodger Carr (father) |
| Sheryl Carr (mother) | |
| Siblings | David Carr (brother, NFL quarterback) |
| Darren Carr (brother) |
Derek Carr’s Early Life and Background:
Derek Carr was born in Bakersfield, California, as the youngest of three children to Rodger and Sheryl Carr. In 2002, his family moved to Sugar Land, Texas, when his oldest brother, David Carr, was drafted by the Houston Texans. The family later returned to Bakersfield for Derek’s senior year, and he attended Bakersfield Christian High School.
Carr started his high school football career at Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas. He played on the freshman team in his first year and became a backup quarterback on the varsity team as a sophomore. An injury to another quarterback made him the starting quarterback unexpectedly. As a sophomore, he passed for 1,246 yards and 12 touchdowns, and as a junior, he passed for 1,622 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was highly recruited and committed to Fresno State on May 25, 2008.
As a senior, Carr led his team to a 12–1 record and a CIF Central Section Division V championship. On October 29, 2008, ESPN RISE named him the National Football Player of the Week after he passed for 441 yards and three touchdowns against Tehachapi High School. He set a Central Section record by throwing for 544 yards against Arvin High School on November 7, 2008. The Bakersfield Californian named him the 2008 All-Area Football Player of the Year. He also set a school record with six passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in a game against Fowler High School. After his high school career, he was named the National Player of the Year by the National Private Schools Athletic Association in 2009.
Derek Carr’s College career:
2009 and 2010 Seasons
Derek Carr started college early, joining Fresno State in the spring of 2009 to play football like his brother, David Carr. Coach Pat Hill considered Carr for the starting quarterback position, but just before the season, he announced that junior Ryan Colburn would start instead. Carr played in five games as a freshman with limited action.
In 2010, Colburn continued as the starter. Carr redshirted this season, preparing to take over as the starting quarterback in 2011.
2011 Season
Carr became the starting quarterback for Fresno State in 2011, leading the Bulldogs to a 4–9 record. He made his debut as a starter in a loss to California. He had a breakout game against Idaho, passing for 371 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. He set a season-high with 391 passing yards and three touchdowns against New Mexico State. Carr finished the season with 3,544 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, ranking high in the Western Athletic Conference.
2012 Season
In 2012, Tim DeRuyter replaced Pat Hill as head coach, and Carr led the Bulldogs to a 9–4 record. Carr’s new target, Davante Adams, helped improve the team’s performance. Carr had a standout game against Colorado with 300 yards and five touchdowns. He tied a school record with 536 passing yards against San Diego State. Carr had other impressive performances, including 416 yards and four touchdowns against New Mexico and 452 yards and four touchdowns against Air Force. He finished the season with 4,104 yards, 37 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, earning the MWC Offensive Player of the Year award.
2013 Season
In 2013, Carr led the Bulldogs to an 11–2 record, their best since 2001. He set school and conference records in the season opener against Rutgers with 52 completions on 73 attempts for 456 yards and five touchdowns. Carr continued to perform strongly, including a 460-yard game against Boise State and multiple 400-yard games. He had 487 yards and three touchdowns against Nevada and 522 yards and seven touchdowns against New Mexico.
Carr finished the regular season with a high AP Poll ranking and led Fresno State to the MWC Championship Game, where they won against Utah State. He ended his college career with a 217-yard, two-touchdown game in a loss to USC in the Las Vegas Bowl. Carr led the FBS with 5,083 yards and 50 touchdowns in 2013, earning the Sammy Baugh Trophy and finishing eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He received the 2013 CFPA Elite QB Award and had his number retired by Fresno State in 2017. In 2019, Fresno State honored him with a mural at the university.
Derek Carr’s NFL Journey:
Derek Carr is known in the NFL as a good, solid quarterback, though he hasn’t quite reached the heights of his high school or college career. He has been to the Pro Bowl three times and has performed well for the Raiders. His impact on the team is so significant that their record book could almost be considered his biography.
Derek Carr’s Teams:
Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (2014-Present)
Derek Carr was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft with the 36th overall pick. He was the fourth quarterback chosen that year. On May 16, he received his requested jersey number, 4, and on May 21, he signed a four-year, $5.37 million contract, which included a $2.2 million signing bonus. Since his first game, Carr has been a regular starter for the Raiders. He has become a key player for the franchise and is arguably the most statistically successful quarterback in Raiders history. Carr holds numerous franchise records in career, season, and game categories as a passer and has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times.
Derek Carr’s NFL Records:
Regular Season Career Stats
- Touchdown Passes: 217
- Pass Completions: 3,201
- Pass Attempts: 4,958
- Pass Completion Percentage: 64.6%
- Passing Yards: 35,222
- Lowest Interception Percentage: 2.0%
- Highest Passer Rating: 91.8
- Most Fourth-Quarter Comebacks: 28
- Most Game-Winning Drives: 33
Season Stats
- Most Completions: 428 (2021)
- Most Attempts: 626 (2021)
- Most Passing Yards: 4,804 (2021)
- Pass Completion Percentage: 70.4% (2019)
- Fewest Interceptions Thrown (minimum 8 starts): 6 (2016)
- Lowest Interception Percentage: 1.1% (2016)
- Most Fourth-Quarter Comebacks: 7 (2016)
- Most Game-Winning Drives: 7 (2016)
Game Stats
- Most Passing Yards: 513 (October 30, 2016, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- Highest Pass Completion Percentage: 91.2% (October 24, 2021, against the Philadelphia Eagles)
Rookie Year Season Stats
- Most Games Started: 16
- Most Completions: 348
- Most Pass Attempts: 599
- Pass Completion Percentage: 58.1%
- Most Passing Yards: 3,270
- Most Touchdowns: 21
- Lowest Interception Percentage (minimum 3 starts): 2.0%
- Highest Passer Rating (minimum 3 starts): 76.6
- Most Losses: 13
Rookie Year Game Stats
- Most Pass Completions: 34 (October 26, 2014, against the Cleveland Browns)
- Most Pass Attempts: 56 (December 14, 2014, against the Kansas City Chiefs)
- Most Touchdown Passes: 4 (October 12, 2014, against the San Diego Chargers)
- Highest Passer Rating: 140.2 (December 7, 2014, against the San Francisco 49ers)
Derek Carr’s career stats:
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | Fumbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | ||
| 2014 | OAK | 16 | 16 | 3–13 | 348 | 599 |
| 2015 | OAK | 16 | 16 | 7–9 | 350 | 573 |
| 2016 | OAK | 15 | 15 | 12–3 | 357 | 560 |
| 2017 | OAK | 15 | 15 | 6–9 | 323 | 515 |
| 2018 | OAK | 16 | 16 | 4–12 | 381 | 553 |
| 2019 | OAK | 16 | 16 | 7–9 | 361 | 513 |
| 2020 | LV | 16 | 16 | 8–8 | 348 | 517 |
| 2021 | LV | 17 | 17 | 10–7 | 428 | 626 |
| 2022 | LV | 15 | 15 | 6–9 | 305 | 502 |
| 2023 | NO | 17 | 17 | 9–8 | 375 | 548 |
| Career | 159 | 159 | 72–87 | 3,576 | 5,506 |
Derek Carr’s Net Worth And Contract:
Derek Carr is estimated to have a net worth of $80 million as of 2022. He secured a lucrative 5-year contract worth $125 million with the Las Vegas Raiders. This deal included a $12.5 million signing bonus and $70.2 million guaranteed money, with an average annual salary of $25 million.
In 2021, Carr’s earnings included a $19.525 million basic salary, a $100,000 workout bonus, and he carried a $2.5 million dead cap value, with a $22.125 million cap hit. By the end of his current contract, he will have earned approximately $130.513 million in salary.
Being one of the highest-paid NFL players, Carr ranks as the 99th highest-paid athlete globally. He has also benefited from endorsements, particularly with Nike and Panini, earning nearly $2 million from these collaborations.
Derek Carr’s Family and Personal Life:
Family Background: Derek Carr’s brother, David, was the first overall pick of the Houston Texans in the 2002 NFL Draft. David played in the NFL from 2002 to 2012 with various teams. Additionally, Carr’s uncle, Lon Boyett, played at the tight end position for the Raiders during the 1978 season.
Marriage and Children: Carr married Heather Neel on June 29, 2012. The couple has three sons and a daughter. His oldest son was born with a medical condition that tied up his intestines and required three surgeries to fix.
Residence: Carr currently resides in the Southern Highlands master-planned community in the southern foothills of the Las Vegas Valley. Notably, he is neighbors with former Raiders coach Jon Gruden.
Faith and Tattoos: Carr is a Christian, and he has stated that his faith is the most important thing in his life. He has tattoos on his wrists, with the left citing a verse from the Biblical Book of Jeremiah and the right depicting a Chi Rho.