It would have to be a special team that lost somebody or needed somebody
Derek Carr, a quarterback who gave eleven seasons to professional football before stepping away in the spring of 2025, finds himself in that liminal space familiar to aging athletes — neither fully gone nor fully returned. At 35, with four Pro Bowl appearances behind him and a shoulder that carries the weight of hard seasons, he has acknowledged that the game has not stopped calling, even if he has not yet answered. His hesitation is not indifference but discernment: he would return only for something worth returning to, a contending team in genuine need, a situation where winning remains possible.
- Multiple NFL teams quietly reached out to Carr this offseason, signaling that the market for experienced quarterbacks remains hungry even for those who have formally retired.
- A labral tear and significant rotator cuff degeneration in his throwing shoulder cast a long shadow over any comeback conversation, raising real questions about what version of Carr a team would actually be getting.
- Carr is drawing a firm line — not just any roster spot will do, only a contender that has suffered a meaningful loss and genuinely needs him could clear the bar he has set for himself.
- The New Orleans Saints still hold his rights under a $150 million contract, meaning any interested team must first negotiate a trade, adding a layer of complexity to what Carr calls a 'special situation.'
- For now, he is living the quieter life — family, golf, and conditioning — holding the door open just enough to let the right moment walk through.
Derek Carr retired from professional football in May 2025 after eleven seasons, but the game has not entirely let him go. The 35-year-old quarterback acknowledged this offseason that multiple teams reached out to gauge his interest in returning, though he declined to name them. His answer, characteristically measured, was that he would only consider coming back for what he called a special situation — a contending team that had lost a key piece and genuinely needed him. Even then, he said, nothing would be guaranteed.
Carr's career was long and substantial. A four-time Pro Bowler, he spent nine seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders before signing a four-year, $150 million deal with the New Orleans Saints in 2023. Last season ended prematurely when a single play against the New York Giants left him with both a concussion and a left hand injury. Before that, a painful right shoulder had already complicated his preparation — imaging revealed a labral tear and meaningful rotator cuff deterioration, with surgery offering uncertain returns.
In the meantime, Carr has found a different rhythm. He spends time with his wife and children, works on his golf game, and continues to train — keeping the option alive without chasing it. The Saints, who drafted young quarterback Tyler Shough in 2025, still hold his rights and would need to facilitate any trade. Whether a team's circumstances will ever feel special enough to pull him back remains an open question, one Carr seems content to let time answer.
Derek Carr has not closed the door on professional football, even though he walked away from the game last spring. The retired quarterback, now 35, said this offseason that multiple teams have made contact about the possibility of him returning to the NFL. But Carr is not interested in just any opportunity—he would need what he calls a special situation to lure him back.
Carr retired in May 2025 after eleven seasons, capping a career that included four Pro Bowl selections. During an appearance on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football," he acknowledged the overtures without naming names. "There were multiple teams that reached out to me this offseason," he said. "I won't say who or how, but they reached out and was just gauging my interest on what I wanted to do. They were good, solid football teams." Yet he made clear that proximity to winning teams alone would not be enough. The calculus, he explained, would have to involve a contender that had suffered a significant loss at quarterback or elsewhere—and even then, nothing was certain.
What would it take? Carr was direct: he wants to win. "I think I'm just at the point where I just want to win," he said. "So if I were to do it, it would have to be a special team that maybe lost somebody or needed somebody, but even then, it's not guaranteed." Right now, he is content with his life away from the field. He spends time with his wife and children and is working on his golf game. He remains in shape and trains regularly, but the pull of family life is stronger than the pull of the gridiron.
The New Orleans Saints still own Carr's rights, having signed him to a four-year, $150 million contract in 2023. If another team wanted him, they would have to negotiate a trade with New Orleans. The Saints drafted quarterback Tyler Shough in 2025 and appear ready to move forward with their young prospect, so a trade would likely be feasible if Carr decided to play again.
There is also the matter of his health. In March 2025, while preparing for what would be his final season, Carr developed pain in his right shoulder. Medical imaging revealed a labral tear and significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff. Surgery was considered, but there was no guarantee he would regain his previous strength and performance. Last season, before injuries ended his year, Carr appeared in ten games, completing 67.7 percent of his passes for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. The Saints went 5-5 in his starts. A concussion and left hand injury sustained in the same play against the New York Giants cut his season short.
Over his career, Carr played in 169 regular season games with a record of 77-92. He completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 41,245 yards, 257 touchdowns, and 112 interceptions. He spent nine seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders before joining the Saints for two years. Whether any team's special situation will be special enough to bring him back remains to be seen.
Citações Notáveis
I think I'm just at the point where I just want to win. So if I were to do it, it would have to be a special team that maybe lost somebody or needed somebody, but even then, it's not guaranteed.— Derek Carr
I'm having too much fun hanging out with my wife, hanging out with my kids, and trying to get good at golf. So it would take a special deal.— Derek Carr
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
When Carr says a "special situation," what does he actually mean? Is he being coy, or is there a real threshold?
I think he's being honest about it. He's not saying no forever—he's saying the math has to work. A team would need to be a legitimate contender that lost its quarterback to injury or trade, not a rebuilding club hoping he'll carry them. And even then, he'd have to want it more than he wants his current life.
The shoulder injury seems like the real elephant in the room. Would any team actually take that risk?
That's the thing nobody's saying out loud. A labral tear with degenerative changes doesn't just disappear. He might feel fine now, but there's no guarantee he'd hold up under an NFL season. A desperate contender might roll the dice, but it's a genuine gamble.
So the Saints are in a weird position. They're paying him not to play, essentially.
Exactly. They drafted Shough, they're moving on. But Carr's still on the books. If the right team calls and offers something decent, New Orleans probably lets him go. It clears cap space and lets them move forward.
Do you think he actually wants to come back, or is this just him being diplomatic?
I think he genuinely doesn't know. He's enjoying his life—his family, golf, no pressure. But he's also a competitor who spent eleven years in the NFL. That itch doesn't disappear. If the right moment came—a Super Bowl contender losing their QB in Week 3—I think he'd at least seriously consider it.
What would that special situation actually look like?
A team like Kansas City or Buffalo losing their starter to a torn ACL in October, with a legitimate shot at a title. A team where Carr could step in and actually win. That's the only scenario where the math works for him.