NFL quarterback Derek Carr has shared that his wife experienced a pregnancy loss during the offseason.

Over the weekend, 34-year-old NFL quarterback Derek Carr spoke to a congregation at ChurchLV in Las Vegas, opening up about a deeply personal loss. Currently playing for the New Orleans Saints and a veteran of 11 NFL seasons—most of which he spent with the Raiders in Oakland and Las Vegas—Carr revealed that his wife, Heather, recently experienced a miscarriage.

The couple had planned a trip to New Orleans to evaluate Carr’s shoulder injury, but their plans were upended when Heather suddenly became unwell and was taken to the hospital. It was during this emergency that they discovered she had been pregnant with their fifth child—news that came as a complete surprise.

Sharing the emotional impact, Carr told the congregation, “So now we’re dealing with the shock—‘Wait, we were expecting a child?’” He added, “We don’t just have four children. We have five. One is in heaven. We’ve got three sons, a daughter, and now another we’ll one day meet in heaven.”

Carr used the moment to urge compassion, saying, “Let’s not be people who judge or assume the worst when we don’t truly know what someone’s going through.”

He also addressed criticism from media outlets like ESPN and The Athletic, which had cast doubt on the legitimacy of his injury. Responding directly, Carr stated, “I hate that I have to explain this, but I do. Yes, I have a shoulder injury, no matter what ESPN or some podcast host might think. I’ve got an MRI to prove it, and the team is fully informed. We’re working through it.”

Carr, who suffered oblique and hand injuries in 2024, played only 10 games that season, finishing with a 5-5 record, 2,145 passing yards, and 15 touchdowns. While the Saints recently drafted quarterback Tyler Shough, they have yet to disclose the full extent of Carr’s current injury.