Central Valley reacts to Carr retirement

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Both the New Orleans Saints and Derek Carr made it official Saturday – he’s calling it a career, something that came as a big surprise to a former Fresno State athletic administrator who worked at the school during Derek’s Bulldog career from 2009 to 2013.

“Seeing the news today, roll across the screen, ‘Derek Carr retires,’ did not think that was gonna happen today,” said Paul Ladwig, Fresno State’s Senior Associate Athletic Director from 2005-2018.

Meantime, one of Carr’s former Bulldog teammates, running back Robbie Rouse, reacted to the news by reaching out to his good friend.

“Oh man, I just shot him a text,” said Rouse, the running backs coach at South Dakota State, over the phone on Saturday. “Just telling him you know, ‘congratulations on a great career.'”

For Bulldog sports fan Tom Ewing, the news wasn’t completely shocking.

“Kind of figured the writing was on the wall, sad a little bit,” sad Tom Ewing, while tailgating before the Fresno State baseball game Saturday.

Carr was starting offseason preparations for year three with the Saints, when he recently experienced pain in his throwing shoulder, and was diagnosed with a labral tear, along with significant degenerative damage to his rotator cuff.

Surgery was an option, but with no guarantee of getting back to his previous level of performance, Derek consulted with his wife Heather, and decided it was time to move on, a decision that the Voice of Bulldog Athletics, Paul Loeffler, can understand.

“As a fan, you hate to see it happen,” said Loeffler. “But as someone who’s known Derek for more than 20 years, excited for him and his family.”

Considering Carr is only 34 year’s old though, one of Loeffler’s broadcast partners for football, was caught a little more off guard by the news.

“He’s still young, especially at the quarterback position, so yeah, I was shocked and disappointed,” said Fresno State football radio analyst and former Bulldog and NFL player Cameron Worrell. “I’m sure a lot of thought and discussion went into making this decision, but I think the NFL is worse without Derek Carr playing quarterback.”

It’s easy to understand why the Red Wave has such a strong connection to Derek. The Carr family has roots in Fresno and Bakersfield, and Carr came to Fresno State from Bakersfield Christian High School, following in his older brother David’s footsteps, who starred at quarterback for the Bulldogs from 1997 to 2001, and went on to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft.

“(Derek) comes from a great family, great parents, great brother,” said Rouse. “He’s just one of a kind, and I was just fortunate to be his teammate, his friend, his brother.”

At Fresno State, Derek won two Mountain West championships, and established 27 new school records, on his way to being named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior.

“The continuation of the Carr legacy is Derek’s legacy,” said Ladwig.

“One thing that I remember (about Derek), the connection with Davante Adams, It’s him and Davante Adams, always together,” said Fresno State freshman student Owen Cortes at that same Bulldog baseball tailgate Saturday.

Derek was a two-time All-American on the field, but the humility with which he carried himself off the field also helped establish him as a Bulldog legend.

“He cared about his teammates, his team, the athletic department,” said Ladwig. “Do you think Derek could ever walk through the mall and not be mobbed there? Absolutely not, and the cool thing about it is, he would take the time to sign autographs and do selfies, because that’s Derek Carr.”

“I’d say with celebrities you usually get starstruck,” said Cortes. “He seems like a down to earth guy that you can walk up to, and ask him about anything, and he’d probably give you an honest answer.”

“I think he’s a better person off the field, than he is on the field,” said Bulldog football season-ticket holder Victor Hernandez at the baseball tailgate Saturday. “I’ve met Derek and David several times, and they’re very humble and very approachable.”

“I think he’s probably the most beloved Fresno State athlete that has ever put any uniform on,” added Worrell.

Carr was a second round pick of the then Oakland Raiders in 2014, and spent his first nine NFL seasons there, making it to four Pro Bowls. Overall, he put up some good numbers with the Silver and Black, and got the Raiders to the playoffs twice, but injuries were an issue for Derek, both in Oakland and then later in New Orleans.

In 2016, Carr played at an MVP-type level, and led the Raiders to an 11-3 start, but on Christmas Eve against the Colts that season, he broke his leg.

Without Carr, the Raiders lost the next week at Denver, and then fell in the Wild Card round of the playoffs at Houston.

“He had a lot of good years,” said Worrell. “That 2016 year really sticks out. I think that was the year the Raiders were flying high, he was in the MVP discussion, and then he had the leg injury, just kind of derailed that season, and he never got back to playing that level of football.”

What’s next for Derek is a mystery at this point?

David is a successful broadcaster for the NFL Network, and his other brother Darren is the head football coach at Bakersfield Christian, with David serving as the offensive coordinator and their father Rodger serving as the quarterbacks coach.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Derek will be on the sidelines before you know it (as a coach), said Rouse. “He’s such a football junkie.”

“Whatever he chooses, we wish him very well, and we’re happy for him,” said Hernandez. “He has really made the Valley proud.”

And he has returned to the Valley. He and his family, which includes his wife Heather and four children, have settled back in Fresno.

“You see him on the sidelines at the games all the time,” said Cortes. “Hopefully we’ll see him more now this year.”

“Hopefully they (David and Derek) come up with an organization that can get us some NIL money,” joked Ewing.

Whatever Derek ends up doing next, it’s a pretty safe bet it will be guided by his faith and his philanthropic nature, which has been on display over the years in the way he and his family have supported Valley Children’s Hospital.

“You’re disappointed that you don’t get to cheer for him on Sundays any more,” said Loeffler. “But maybe you will cheer for him on Sundays, it’s just a different stage.”

“We are incredibly fortunate to have had such a dedicated sportsman – and supporter of Valley Children’s, as Derek Carr,” wrote Valley Children’s President and CEO Todd Suntrapak in a statement provided to Sports Central Saturday. “We wish him the very best in all of his future endeavors. Derek has been – and will always be – a part of the Valley Children’s family, and we’re excited for even more opportunities to have his continued support fulfilling our mission to help kids.”