At 34, Derek Carr stepped away from the game after a serious shoulder injury, the New Orleans Saints QB’s decision that marked the end of an 11-year career.
But as fans began to process the news, a Pro Bowl linebacker stole the spotlight with a cryptic and unexpected message about Arch Manning, the highly touted quarterback prospect from the University of Texas. The tweet quickly went viral, turning what would mean up to six months of a somber moment for Saints fans into speculation about the team’s future at the quarterback position.
Carr’s retirement came after a difficult offseason. The Saints revealed that he had been dealing with a labral tear and significant degenerative changes in his rotator cuff since late March this year.
Surgery was one of the options, but it would have him sidelined for approximately six months, with no assurance of returning to his peak form. Faced with the prospect of spending the entire 2025 season on injury, he chose to call it an end, leaving the Saints in a risky situation as they look to rebuild their QB room.
Pro Bowl LB’s Arch Manning Tweet Crashes Derek Carr’s Retirement News
Just hours after the Saints and Carr made the retirement official, a Pro Bowl linebacker, whose identity has not been disclosed in the posts but is known for stirring the pot on social media, dropped a bombshell tweet that shifted the conversation.
“Canning for Manning”
“Parch for Arch”
“Planning for Manning”
… hmmm, something will stick. 🤔 https://t.co/0v13cHgEer
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) May 10, 2025
The message was not long, but it was loaded: a vague reference to Manning, the Texas quarterback widely regarded as one of the top prospects for the following NFL Draft. Although the X post did not mention Carr directly, the timing couldn’t have been more shocking.
Currently, Manning is a third-year quarterback at Texas. he has already shown flashes of brilliance, going 2-0 as a starter and earning SEC Co-Freshman of the Week honors earlier in his career.
Though he has only thrown 63 passes in college, his pedigree and potential have made him a darling of NFL scouts and fans. The idea of him landing in New Orleans, where his grandfather became a franchise icon, feels like a storybook scene.
The tweet didn’t provide specifics, but its implications were clear. Was he suggesting the Saints should fail the 2025 season to secure a high draft pick for Manning in the next draft? Or was he hinting at some behind-the-scenes speculation about the team’s long-term plans?
KEEP READING: Remembering Derek Carr’s College Greatness as He Steps Away from the Game
Without Carr, the Saints will face a challenging 2025 season. They’ll likely turn to a combination of Shough and a veteran free agent to fill the gap. However, the team’s performance this year could determine its draft position in the next draft, and if they struggle, the calls to target Manning will only grow louder.
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