New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is making headlines in an unfortunate way —he’s now the first quarterback in NFL history to lose to 31 different teams, except the Las Vegas Raiders, who are suffering without a strong quarterback.
The Raiders’ only hope seems to be Deion Sanders’ son and Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who might be eyeing Las Vegas as his new NFL home. Carr will face the Raiders on Dec. 29, giving him a chance to “complete” his record-breaking stat.
Derek Carr is in a league of his own but in the worst possible way 👀
He is the first QB in NFL history to lose to 31 different teams.
The only team he hasn't lost to is his former team, the Las Vegas Raiders.
Carr and the Saints play the Raiders on December 29 where more… pic.twitter.com/tz0njHca4w
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 5, 2024
It is an unusual milestone that any quarterback wouldn’t like to be associated with. However, Carr’s performance on the field has actually been respectable. This season, he’s maintained a 67.9% completion rate with 2,314 passing yards (7.7 yards per attempt), 17 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, yielding a solid passer rating of 99.2 (as per ESPN).
In specific matchups, like his recent game against the Atlanta Falcons, he posted a 77.8% completion rate and threw for 239 yards without a touchdown and with one interception, showing some of the ups and downs in his play.
Las Vegas had already moved up the 2025 NFL Draft ladder as it heads into Week 10 following a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Meanwhile, Shedeur’s tweets of “Thank you, God” after every Raiders loss have caused speculation about his keen interest in the team.
Thank you GOD
— Shedeur Sanders (@ShedeurSanders) November 3, 2024
However, for Carr, things seem to be getting worse.
Derek Carr Has a Growing “Coach Killer” Reputation
Head coach Dennis Allen’s recent firing under Carr’s tenure with the Saints has taken an unexpected turn. Allen was let go for the second time while Carr was under center—first with the Raiders in 2014 and now with New Orleans.
The shift has prompted fans to dub Carr a “coach killer” as it becomes a repeated event. The label gained traction as the Saints struggle with a seven-game losing streak, capped by a disappointing loss to the Panthers.
While Allen’s exit was accompanied by his heartfelt message to the team and city, the Saints’ defensive troubles have been hard to ignore. Jay Glazer from NFL on Fox tweeted what he heard from Allen after he was let go.
Just got off the phone with Dennis Allen. Obviously disappointed but had nothing but love for the Saints and New Orleans. “Of course I’m disappointed but I love that organization, I love the people in there and will always have so much love for the city of New Orleans. I always…
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) November 4, 2024
The team allowed an average of 376.4 yards per game, landing near the bottom of the league, and the offense hasn’t fared much better, ranking 16th in total yards per game. Former Saints WR Michael Thomas even weighed in, claiming Carr’s performance had contributed to the team’s struggles. “They fired all them coaches trying to cover his flaws up,” Thomas said.
Carr’s relatively solid stats this season should have improved the Saints. However, they now face the challenge of finding a new head coach amid a difficult season, with fans wondering if Carr can break the cycle or if the “coach killer” label will stick.
Derek Carr’s Week 9 Grade
According to the Pro Football Network QB+ Metric, Carr came in with a B- grade in Week 9.
There was some hope that Carr would come back and save the Saints’ season. Unfortunately, his return could not stop them from losing a seventh straight game, this one against the worst team in the league. However, his performance was not that bad when you look at the metrics, especially when you consider the potential rust factor.
The problem is that none of the numbers were great either, and most of them were on the lower end of what he had achieved this year. Ultimately, it is still a B- performance, but the
Saints needed him to elevate this team. He was above average when it came to both throwing from a clean pocket and when under pressure, but his third-down conversion rate was below the 35th percentile in our database.