On Saturday (March 11), the Saints introduced Derek Carr as their new quarterback, following the formal signing of his four-year, $150 million contract at the team’s headquarters. After starting as the quarterback for the Raiders for nine seasons, Carr was benched for the team’s final two games last season, leading the Raiders to attempt a trade for him, which Carr declined by refusing to waive his no-trade clause.
When the Raiders released him on Valentine’s Day, just before another $40 million of his contract became guaranteed, Carr became a free agent and agreed to terms with the Saints on March 6, after meeting with the New York Jets. Carr credited his faith in God for his succeess.
Carr explained, “You know, but there are some things that I can do really well that the Lord has blessed me with. That I think that, you know, Pete and the offensive staff do a really good job of, whatever that is for each individual player. They pull that out of them.”
One reported mentioned, “Speaking of the Lord and the Christian faith, I thought you being a family man… you’re going from Las Vegas to New Orleans… I say you can’t get any individual more stable than a Derek Carr, considering, you know, his Christian faith and what he’s going to bring to the table and his involvement in the community.”
Got our guy.
The New Orleans #Saints have agreed to terms with QB Derek Carr! pic.twitter.com/F9Au1Uc59F
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) March 6, 2023
Carr responded, “Yeah, I mean, I’m not going to sit up here and throw Bibles at everybody, but I do have faith and I do believe, you know, and that’s how we raise our children, that’s what the basis of our marriage is on, you know. I love my wife because of the way that I’m loved, you know, and how I learn that love. And so same thing in the community, that’s how I love people.”
Don’t sleep on Derek Carr pic.twitter.com/hT1C6uyVwo
— Chris Olave Stan (@WhoDatContent) March 14, 2023
During a vacation in Mexico, Carr reached out to former Saints quarterback Drew Brees with questions about the organization and city, and Brees’ endorsement helped convince him to join the Saints.
Carr continued, “There’s a place for it and all those kind of things and we will do that, but you know, for us, there’s a lot of stuff that we do that, you know, it’s that one fan, it’s that one person that you run into at Target that may need a little help, or there’s that one person at the gas station, and we just try and always be open to that and what the Lord is saying to us on how to help that community and love and just love the people of New Orleans. And so, you know, for us, that my faith is number one. That’ll never change, you know, no matter what, good or bad. And then my family, and then football, and I love all three a lot, so I’ll make sure I give them my best.”