Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, 29, and his wife Heather Neel have announced that they are expecting a baby girl, their fourth child. The new addition to the family is expected to arrive in December, which means that Heather is approximately three months pregnant.
Using the hashtag #GirlDad, a nod to Kobe Bryant, Carr made the announcement with a gender reveal video that was posted on Instagram. In the clip, we see the quarterback getting ready to tee off on a golf course. After he hits the ball, a cloud of pink dust appears, indicating that the parents-to-be will be welcoming a baby girl.
Their fourth child will join brothers Deakon, Deker and Dallas. The couple married on June 29, 2012, when Carr was just 21 years old. Their oldest son had a medical condition that tied up his intestines at birth and had to undergo three surgeries to correct the abnormality. He is reportedly doing well now.
Carr, who has stated that he is profoundly Christian, has tattoos on his wrists — the one on the left hand is a verse from the Biblical Book of Jeremiah and the one on the right is a depiction of Chi Rho, which is a representation of the connection between the Crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection.
Carr was drafted by the Raiders in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft after playing college football at Fresno State. His younger brother is former NFL quarterback and current analyst David Carr. He was born in Fresno, California, the youngest of three children to Rodger and Sheryl Carr, and graduated from Bakersfield Christian High School.
In a recent tweet, Carr expressed his anger and disgust over the murder of George Floyd. He also stated his belief in equality and unity, hoping that one day other countries might look to the United States as an example of tolerance. The Raiders have openly supported the Black Lives Matter movement and changed the header of their Twitter account to reflect the same.
The NFL has been criticised in the past for not allowing its players to openly express their opposition to police brutality. In 2016, Colin Kaepernick famously took a knee during the singing of the national anthem as a protest against injustice and racial inequality. Since then, he has remained unsigned despite the support of many other players.