Derek Carr NFL Career Stats and Final Numbers After 11 Seasons

Derek Carr concluded his 11-year professional football career in May 2025, leaving behind a statistical legacy defined by durability, high-volume passing, and franchise-setting records. Over a decade in the league, Carr played for the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders and the New Orleans Saints, amassing numbers that place him among the most prolific passers of his era.

Following a series of significant injuries during the 2024 season, including a labral tear in his throwing shoulder and a broken hand, Carr officially transitioned to the reserve/retired list. This comprehensive breakdown examines his complete statistical journey from Fresno State to his final snap in New Orleans.

Derek Carr Career Statistics Overview

For those seeking an immediate summary of his professional output, the following totals represent Carr's cumulative regular-season performance from 2014 to 2024.

Carr finished his career ranked 25th all-time in NFL passing yards, surpassing notable figures like Andy Dalton and Dan Fouts during his final active campaigns.

The Raiders Era: 2014–2022

The majority of Derek Carr's statistical output occurred during his nine-year tenure with the Raiders. Selected 36th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, Carr became a Day 1 starter and eventually rewrote the franchise record book.

2014: The Rookie Foundation

In his debut season, Carr started all 16 games—a rarity for second-round rookies. He attempted 599 passes, completing 348 for 3,270 yards. While his average per attempt was a modest 5.5 yards, he threw 21 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. This season established his reputation for durability and volume.

2015–2016: Pro Bowl Ascent and MVP Contention

The 2015 season saw a significant jump in efficiency. Carr threw for 3,987 yards and 32 touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. However, 2016 remains his most statistically impactful year. He led the Raiders to a 12-3 record in his starts, throwing 28 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions with a 96.7 passer rating. His season was cut short by a broken leg in Week 16, a moment many analysts believe altered the trajectory of the Raiders' Super Bowl chances that year. He finished third in AP MVP voting.

2017–2019: Consistency Amidst Coaching Changes

Despite shifts in coaching staff and offensive systems, Carr continued to produce high yardage totals.

• 2017: 3,496 yards, 22 TDs, 13 INTs.
• 2018: 4,049 yards, 19 TDs, 10 INTs. This year was notable for a career-high 51 sacks taken, illustrating the pressure he faced.
• 2019: 4,054 yards and a career-best 70.4% completion percentage. He became the first Raiders quarterback to record multiple 4,000-yard seasons.

2020–2021: Peak Volume in Las Vegas

As the team moved to Las Vegas, Carr’s yardage exploded. In 2020, he threw for 4,103 yards and 27 touchdowns. The 2021 campaign marked his career high in passing yards with 4,804, leading the NFL in several categories during the first month of the season and eventually guiding the Raiders to a playoff berth under tumultuous circumstances.

2022: The Final Season in Silver and Black

The 2022 season was a statistical outlier on the negative side. While he threw 24 touchdowns, his completion percentage dipped to 60.8%, and he led the league in interceptions at the time of his benching in Week 16. He finished with 3,522 yards before his eventual release in February 2023.

The New Orleans Saints Era: 2023–2024

Carr signed a four-year, $150 million contract with the New Orleans Saints in March 2023. His arrival was intended to bring veteran stability to a post-Drew Brees offense.

2023: Stability and Milestone Achievement

In his first year with the Saints, Carr started all 17 games. He completed 375 of 548 passes (68.4%) for 3,878 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions.

• Key Achievement: Carr became only the third quarterback in NFL history to pass for over 3,000 yards in each of his first ten seasons, joining Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson.
• Efficiency: He ended the season with a 97.7 passer rating, showing elite efficiency in the final stretch where he threw 14 touchdowns to only 2 interceptions over the last five games.

2024: The Injury-Plagued Final Chapter

The 2024 season was difficult from a health perspective. Carr appeared in only 10 games.

• Stats: 189 completions on 279 attempts (67.7%), 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.
• Passer Rating: 101.0, which actually marked one of the higher ratings of his career, suggesting that when healthy, his performance remained high.
• Final Snap: His season ended prematurely due to a combination of a shoulder injury and oblique strain. These lingering issues ultimately influenced his decision to retire in May 2025 rather than undergo another reconstructive surgery at age 34.

Comprehensive Year-by-Year Passing Statistics

Rushing and Ball Security Data

While Carr was never classified as a "dual-threat" quarterback, he utilized his legs effectively in red-zone situations and to extend plays.

Career Rushing Totals

• Attempts: 327
• Rushing Yards: 956
• Yards Per Carry: 2.9
• Rushing Touchdowns: 7
• Longest Run: 41 yards (2014)

Fumbles and Ball Security

One of the more scrutinized aspects of Carr's statistical profile was ball security while in the pocket. Over 169 games, he recorded 90 fumbles, losing 39 of them.

• Highest Fumble Season: 2021 (13 fumbles)
• Career Fumble Recovery: He personally recovered 23 of his own fumbles.

Franchise Records and Historical Context

When Carr departed from the Raiders after the 2022 season, he left as the most statistically decorated passer in the team's storied history.

Raiders Franchise Records Held by Derek Carr

1. Most Career Passing Yards: 35,222
2. Most Career Passing Touchdowns: 217
3. Most Career Completions: 3,201
4. Highest Completion Percentage (min. 1,500 attempts): 64.6%
5. Most 300-Yard Passing Games: 33
6. Most 4,000-Yard Passing Seasons: 4

In the context of the NFL since his draft year in 2014, Carr ranks first in completion percentage and fourth in total passing yardage among his draft class. His 28 fourth-quarter comebacks are tied for the 14th most in NFL history, and he is tied with Matthew Stafford for the most such comebacks by any quarterback since 2014.

Collegiate Statistics: Fresno State Bulldogs (2009–2013)

Carr's professional volume was foreshadowed by his record-breaking time at Fresno State. His college numbers were instrumental in his second-round draft stock.

In 2013, he won the Sammy Baugh Trophy and was a two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year. He is one of the few quarterbacks to ever record a 5,000-yard, 50-touchdown season in college football.

The Factors Behind Retirement in 2025

Statistics tell part of the story, but the physical toll on Carr's body led to the end of his career. In late March 2025, while preparing for the upcoming season, Carr discovered a significant injury to his throwing shoulder (rotator cuff/labral tear).

According to medical reports provided by the New Orleans Saints, surgery was the only viable option for a full recovery. However, the timeline for surgery and rehabilitation would have caused him to miss the entire 2025 campaign. At age 34, and having already navigated concussions, broken bones, and hand injuries, Carr opted to retire. By doing so, he forfeited $30 million in guaranteed salary for the 2025 season, prioritizing his long-term health and family.

Post-Retirement Status and "Unretirement" Speculation

As of early 2026, Derek Carr remains on the Saints' reserve/retired list. While there has been media speculation regarding a potential return for a Super Bowl-contending team—similar to the path taken by players like Tom Brady or Philip Rivers in past discussions—Carr has maintained his stance on retirement. The New Orleans Saints still hold his playing rights should he choose to return to the NFL gridiron.

Summary of Major Career Accolades

• 4× Pro Bowl Selection: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022.
• Castrol Edge Clutch Performer of the Year: 2016.
• AFC Offensive Player of the Month: September 2021.
• Fresno State No. 4: Retired Jersey.

What is Derek Carr's final passer rating?

Derek Carr finished his NFL career with a cumulative passer rating of 92.8. His highest single-season rating was 101.4, achieved in 2020 with the Las Vegas Raiders.

How many passing yards does Derek Carr have?

He retired with 41,245 regular-season passing yards, ranking him in the top 25 in NFL history.

Did Derek Carr ever win a playoff game?

Despite his high statistical output, Carr participated in only two playoff cycles. He missed the 2016 postseason due to a broken leg and lost his only career playoff start in 2021 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Why did Derek Carr retire?

He retired in May 2025 primarily due to a severe shoulder injury that would have required season-ending surgery. He cited health and family as the primary motivators for walking away after 11 seasons.

Which team does Derek Carr belong to now?

Technically, he is retired, but the New Orleans Saints hold his NFL rights as he was placed on their reserve/retired list.

How does Carr's completion percentage compare to other QBs?

His career completion percentage of 65.1% is considered high-tier, ranking him favorably among contemporary quarterbacks. He led the NFL in completion percentage for the first several weeks of the 2021 season.

Conclusion

Derek Carr’s statistical profile depicts a quarterback of immense durability and volume. Passing for over 41,000 yards and 250 touchdowns is a feat achieved by only a small fraction of players in NFL history. While his career was often marked by team-level instability and coaching turnover, his individual numbers remained remarkably consistent. His legacy as the Raiders' most prolific passer and a resilient leader for the Saints ensures his place in the record books for years to come.