NFL quarterbacks are some of the biggest stars in all of sports. Their entire livelihood is to be the face of a franchise while dodging the scariest guys on the planet. It's a lot of pressure, and high-profile guys such as NFL QBs tend to peak our curiosity.
Does Tom Brady age? Has Aaron Rodgers talked to his family in the last decade? Does Patrick Mahomes have Kermit the Frog living inside him? Why didn't Ben Rothlisberger's skeleton collapse on instant impact when he was touched?
When it comes to Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, people only have one question on their mind.
Does Derek Carr Wear Eyeliner?
Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images
RELATED: Derek Carr Married a College Cheerleader & Had 4 Kids
Derek Carr came into the league as a relatively unknown guy after playing his college football at Fresno State. He was more recognized as being the little brother of David Carr, the No. 1 pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, than for throwing touchdown passes to Davante Adams with the Bulldogs.
As a rookie, Carr's skills and poise won him the starting quarterback job for the Oakland Raiders. Fans took notice of the NFL QB's eyes as the Raiders played in more primetime games. Some players throw on eye black. It looked like Carr threw on eyeliner.
Where's the "30 for 30" on Derek Carr's natural eyeliner? pic.twitter.com/fieH4Gz6zG
— Joe Reid (@joereid) October 20, 2017
Picture a kid who listened to nothing but My Chemical Romance and Taking Back Sunday in high school from 2001 to 2007 and Carr is what you'll get. The whole vibe is very much "MySpace Profile Pic."
The Raiders' Pro Bowl QB's look becomes a trending topic on social media every time the Raiders plays. It even inspires some memes.
Derek Carr Addresses Eyeliner Rumors
Carr addressed #eyelinergate on "The Dan Patrick Show" following a 24-20 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014. Patrick asked the prototypical questions about the Week 12 game, which was the Raiders' first win of the year, before asking the burning question about the eyeliner rumors.
Carr handled it like a pro.
"The Lord has just blessed me with great eyelashes," he said.
God famously models great eyelashes after '80s punk bands. And hey, something had to catch the eye of his wife Heather Neel back in the day.
Derek Carr: "It's Called Guyliner"
Carr humorously addressed the eyeliner rumors again in a 2016 commercial co-starring his brother David for Educational Employees Credit Union. At the end of the ad, David asks Derek if he's wearing eyeliner. Derek responds by saying, "It's called guyliner."
So there you have it.
Carr's eyes take center stage whenever he's facing off against the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks or AFC West rival Denver Broncos.
He'll continue to lead Las Vegas towards the playoffs even without former head coach and ESPN announcer Jon Gruden. His eyes will certainly get their own press conference if the Raiders reach the Super Bowl.
So no, Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr does not wear eyeliner. He just happens to have the darkest eyelashes known to man.
This article was originally published on October 14, 2021, and has been updated since.
