As the New Orleans Saints look to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, they'll do so on the shoulders of quarterback Derek Carr who signed a four-year deal this week.

Carr may put on a Saints uniform for the first time next season, but his connection to the team goes back quite a while.

When Carr was drafted by the then-Oakland Raiders in 2014, current Saints' head coach Dennis Allen was the top guy there so he got to see him in the infant stages of his NFL journey. 

Allen was fired after the Raiders started the season with four consecutive losses. However, he remembers his time with Carr fondly, although it was brief. 

“I had the opportunity to work with Derek at the start of his professional football career," Allen said. "In addition to his talent, I admired his approach to the game, work ethic, and commitment to get better every day in what were the formative stages of his career."

During Carr's nine seasons with the Raiders, he didn't have a lot of team success. The Raiders only made the playoffs twice (2016, 2021) and Carr lost both starts. 

Carr did experience some individual success though with four Pro Bowl selections.

Allen went on to praise his new starting quarterback and his progression from when he came into the league.

"From afar and when we played him as an opponent, I saw Derek’s development into one of the most productive quarterbacks in the National Football League," said Allen. "Derek is an outstanding addition to the New Orleans Saints and I can’t wait to get working with him and the rest of our team this offseason.”

There's plenty of work to do for the Saints to get where they want to go, and hopefully, for their sake, the connection between Allen and Carr will assist in that.