Derek Carr’s Potential Comeback

Derek Carr may not be done with football just yet. NFL reporter Jordan Schultz mentioned on Wednesday that there’s a “strong belief” Carr is considering a return to the NFL in 2026.

According to Schultz, Carr’s rights are still held by the New Orleans Saints, meaning any team interested in him would need to trade some draft picks to acquire him.

Despite the rise of rookie quarterback Tyler Schau, the Saints seem open to letting Carr pursue opportunities elsewhere, as reported by NFL Network.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Carr, now 34, was contemplating retirement under certain conditions. Just four days later, he indicated he would entertain a return if he felt healthy and had the chance to join a genuine Super Bowl contender.

This aligns with what his brother, David, shared back in October about Carr’s hesitations concerning a return. David remarked on Carr’s nervousness about stepping into a situation where he could be left sidelined if the starting quarterback were to get injured.

In fact, multiple teams reached out to Carr last season, including the Cincinnati Bengals.

Last May, Carr’s retirement caught many off guard; he stepped away after a shoulder injury and wanted to avoid just collecting a paycheck without contributing. Since then, he has undergone surgery on his shoulder, which is now fully healed, and he’s reportedly in good shape.

During his nine years with the Raiders, Carr cemented his place in the league, signing a four-year, $150 million deal with New Orleans in 2023. He made four Pro Bowl appearances and had a standout 2016 season, finishing third in MVP voting with nearly 4,000 passing yards and 28 touchdowns.

Over his two seasons with the Saints, while his first was promising, his second was marred by injuries, ultimately leading to a 14-13 record in New Orleans. So far, he has amassed 41,125 passing yards and 257 touchdowns in his career.

Perhaps his story isn’t over, and he could add to those impressive numbers come 2026.