Let the healing begin, New Orleans.
A day after Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Mass at the Sistine Chapel, the Saints announced the news of Derek Carr’s shocking retirement.
Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.
You don’t have to be a practicing member of the Catholic church to understand or appreciate the cleansing effect Saturday’s news had on the city.
You could almost feel the spiritual cloud lifting from above as the story broke.
This was unequivocally a win-win for both sides, the best outcome for everyone involved.
Carr is relieved of the burden of returning to a place where he clearly wasn’t happy — or wanted. (And it’s notable that he did the Saints a solid financially by agreeing to walk away from his contract before next season.)
The Saints and first-year head coach Kellen Moore get a fresh start with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.
And New Orleans once again can fully unite behind its beloved football team.
The situation had become untenable. Whatever led to the disconnect and drama between Carr and the team needed to be repaired. And it was in recent weeks. Privately, behind closed doors.
Whether you elect to believe Carr’s shoulder was injured or serving merely as a negotiating chip in a messy divorce from the team is irrelevant now. Both sides are free to move on. A clean break was needed. For Carr, the Saints and the city.
It’s hard to say how things went so sideways between Carr and the team. In January, Carr lauded the organization with platitudes on his way out of town, praising general manager Mickey Loomis, owner Gayle Benson and the organization.
"Absolutely. I love my teammates, the organization," Carr said. "Mrs. Benson has been unbelievable. Mickey’s been unbelievable and everyone upstairs. … I have thoroughly enjoyed my time. It just sucks with all the injuries, we weren’t able to play a lot this year and not being able to do that made it not as fun. Besides that, 10 out of 10, I’ve enjoyed my time here. Wouldn’t change it for anything."
Not long thereafter, Carr reportedly sought an exit plan from the Saints.
What began in the spring of 2023 with Saints celebrating a free agent win over the Panthers and Jets for Carr’s services and awarding him the most lucrative contract in franchise history suddenly was headed for divorce, two years earlier than the terms of the four-year, $150 million contract dictated and one year earlier than anyone expected.
We will look back on the Carr era of Saints football the same way we remember a failed personal relationship with a significant other. With tinges of regret, dismay and chagrin.
Carr had the misfortune of following Drew Brees, the most beloved and successful player in Saints history. Yes, Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill had temporary stints in between, but Carr was the first one anointed and compensated as the franchise quarterback.
He was celebrated initially, but his approval rating gradually eroded as time progresses and the losses mounted. While Carr went 14-13 as the starter, his numbers were misleading. He went just 1-8 record against playoff teams and only beat two teams that ended the season with winning records — the 9-8 Colts and Bucs in 2023.
The most telling statistic of his two-year tenure was not his 98.8 quarterback rating but the meager number of comeback wins and fourth-quarter comebacks he authored: 0 and 2, respectively.
It says something that Carr’s signature moment was the blowout win against the Dallas Cowboys last season in which he celebrated a touchdown run with an impromptu Michael Jackson dance in the end zone.
Notably, none of his teammates elected to join Carr in the celebration.
The scene reminded me of something an NFL source said about Carr shortly after the Saints signed him.
"New Orleans is going to love him — until they start playing games," the source said. "He’s not a bad guy, but there’s something missing about him."
The Saints and New Orleans learned this the hard way over the past two seasons.
As much as we all love New Orleans, it isn’t for everyone. And it certainly wasn’t the right fit for Carr, who never seemed to recover from his infamous first supper at Chipotle.
You have to go back to Aaron Brooks’ tenure in the early 2000s to find a player more divisive to the fans.
To his credit, Carr tried to repair his image a year ago by working in the community and supporting teammates afield. The damage, though, was done. He never seemed to embrace the maxim Brees lived by throughout his celebrated tenure: If you love New Orleans, it will love you back.
By the end, he had replaced Roger Goodell as the city's persona non grata. The entire situation had become exhausting for everyone involved.
And so now, thankfully, mercifully, we move on.
A city steeped in Catholic tradition can rejoice. There’s a new pontiff and a new quarterback to rally behind.
Quite a weekend for New Orleans.
Rebirth, indeed.