Just 12 Hours After Meeting With Colts GM, Saints Icon Derek Carr Shocks NFL by Rejecting Indianapolis’ $120 Million Offer – “My Heart Belongs to New Orleans”
New Orleans, Louisiana – December 10, 2025
The NFL was rocked on Tuesday when Derek Carr — the face of the New Orleans Saints and one of the league’s most durable quarterbacks of the past decade — flatly rejected a $120 million contract offer from the Indianapolis Colts, who hoped he would unretire and rescue their season.

The Colts, scrambling amid a quarterback crisis, reached out to Carr just hours before ultimately signing Philip Rivers to the practice squad. But the moment the offer was delivered, Carr stunned the league with an immediate and emphatic refusal — followed by a declaration of loyalty rarely seen in an era defined by mega-contracts.
“I’m willing to play until my last breath if New Orleans needs me,” Carr said firmly. “I’ve poured my heart, my time, and a huge part of my life into this city… and if that call doesn’t come from the Saints, then I’ll live as a Saints alum in every sense — loyal, unwavering, and always waiting for the right moment to finish the story we started.”
This wasn’t just a rejection of a massive contract. It was a vow — a statement of identity tied directly to the city he considers home.
Carr, who retired in the summer of 2025 after a shoulder injury, had never fully closed the door on a potential return, which led the Colts to believe they had a real shot. What they underestimated was something stronger than money: legacy and loyalty.
Across his 11-year career, Carr threw for more than 41,000 yards and 257 touchdowns, signing deals worth over $400 million combined. But this time, value wasn’t measured in dollars.
The Colts have moved forward with Rivers, but what the NFL is still buzzing about isn’t Indianapolis’ search for a quarterback — it’s Derek Carr making it clear he belongs to one place: New Orleans.
Will he unretire someday? Possibly.
But one truth is now undeniable:
If the call doesn’t come from the Saints, Carr isn’t coming back — at any price.













