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| Derek Carr (American football) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Derek Carr |
| Birth date | 28 March 1991 |
| Birth place | Fresno, California |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Position | Quarterback |
| College | Fresno State |
| NFL draft | 2014 / Round: 2 / Pick: 36 |
| Teams | * Oakland Raiders / Las Vegas Raiders (2014–2022) * New Orleans Saints (2023–present) |
| Highlights | * 3× Pro Bowl (2015, 2016, 2017) * PFWA All-Rookie Team (2014) |
Derek Carr (American football) is an American professional football quarterback who has played in the National Football League since 2014. A second‑round pick out of Fresno State, Carr developed into a multi‑year Pro Bowl starter with the Oakland Raiders and Las Vegas Raiders before signing with the New Orleans Saints. Known for his pocket presence and accuracy, he has been among the NFL passing leaders in several seasons and holds multiple franchise records.
Born in Fresno, California, Carr is the son of Pauline and Roger Carr; his family has strong ties to Fresno State and the Central Valley sports community. He attended Buchanan High School in Clovis, California, where he starred as a quarterback for the Buchanan Lancers under coach Tim Murphy. As a high school athlete he played in local rivalries against teams from Clovis North High School and Sunnyside High School, drawing attention from regional college programs. Carr's prep career featured passing milestones, leadership in the Central Section and participation in offseason training with peers from California high school football programs.
Carr enrolled at Fresno State University and played for the Fresno State Bulldogs, coached by Tim DeRuyter and later Kalen DeBoer. After redshirting, he rose to become the Bulldogs' starting quarterback, succeeding quarterbacks from the program such as Ryan Colburn and building upon the legacy of notable Fresno State passers. Carr led the Bulldogs through Western Athletic Conference and Mountain West Conference matchups, including games against San Jose State, Boise State and San Diego State. He earned Mountain West recognition for passing yards, touchdown production and efficiency, while competing in bowl games like the New Mexico Bowl and facing defenses coordinated by coaches from across the NCAA Division I FBS landscape. His collegiate résumé attracted the attention of NFL scouts ahead of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Selected 36th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, Carr began his professional career under head coach Dennis Allen and offensive regimes that included coordinators such as Greg Olson and later Bill Musgrave. He won the Raiders' starting job as a rookie, appearing in NFL contests against teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos. Over seasons with the Raiders, Carr posted multiple 4,000‑yard passing campaigns and earned Pro Bowl nods, competing in AFC West matchups versus the Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos. He worked with head coaches Jack Del Rio, Jon Gruden and, during the franchise's relocation, experienced games at both Oakland Coliseum and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
In 2023 Carr signed with the New Orleans Saints to back up and compete with established quarterbacks like Drew Brees's successors and return to NFC play against teams such as the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Throughout his career he faced notable defenses and pass rushers including players from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers, adapting to coordinator changes and roster turnover while maintaining starter-level statistics.
Carr is primarily a pocket passer with a reputation for accuracy, decision‑making and timing similar to other precision quarterbacks such as Alex Smith and Drew Brees. Scouts and analysts compared his mechanics, release and anticipation to established passers from the NFL and NCAA ranks, citing his ability to read zone coverage concepts deployed by defensive coordinators like Vic Fangio and Wade Phillips. While not known for elite rushing production like dual‑threat quarterbacks such as Lamar Jackson or Russell Wilson, Carr's mobility allows him to evade pressure and extend plays against front sevens featuring players from the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears. Under different offensive coordinators, he demonstrated proficiency in timing routes to receivers such as those from the Green Bay Packers and in utilizing play designs similar to systems run by coaches like Sean McVay.
Carr is one of several siblings and part of a football family that includes brothers who played collegiate and professional football, connecting him to programs like Fresno State and NFL organizations. He has been involved in community and charitable initiatives in the Central Valley and in cities where he has played, aligning with local foundations and youth programs. Off the field, Carr maintains relationships with teammates and NFL personnel across franchises such as the Raiders and Saints, and he has participated in media appearances on outlets covering the National Football League.
Carr's NFL career statistics include multiple seasons with over 3,000 and 4,000 passing yards, placing him among annual leaders in passing yards and touchdown passes during his Pro Bowl seasons. He holds Raiders franchise records for single‑season passing yards and consecutive starts, surpassing marks set by predecessors such as Rich Gannon and Ken Stabler. His cumulative passing totals rank him within the upper echelon of quarterbacks drafted in the 2014 class and among active NFL passers, featuring statistical comparisons to quarterbacks from franchises like the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints. Specific season-by-season numbers encompass passing yards, touchdown-to-interception ratios and passer rating metrics tracked by the NFL and professional statistical services.
Category:American football quarterbacks Category:Players of American football from California