Retired Quarterback Derek Carr Discusses Potential Return

You never really say never, right? That’s sort of what Derek Carr seems to imply.

The 35-year-old quarterback, who retired in May 2025 after a lengthy 11 seasons in the NFL, recently revealed that several teams have reached out to him, hoping to entice him back onto the field.

“I’ve had multiple teams contact me this offseason. I can’t disclose who they are or how they reached out, but they were simply gauging my interest,” Carr mentioned during a recent spot on NFL Network. “They’re solid football teams,” he added.

While he hasn’t completely closed the door on a comeback, Carr acknowledged that it would take something “special” to lure him back.

“I can’t say never. It requires special circumstances,” he explained. “Right now, we’re all about winning. If I were to come back, it would have to be with a special team that maybe lost someone or really needed a player, but even then, it’s not a sure thing.”

Carr noted that he remains in good shape, staying active, but he also genuinely enjoys his time as a husband and father. “I love playing with my kids and spending time with my wife. I’m even trying to improve at golf,” he said. “So for a return to happen, it would have to be something exceptional.”

The Saints signed Carr to a significant four-year, $150 million contract in 2023, so if he did decide to play again, they would need to facilitate a trade. The team drafted quarterback Tyler Shaw in 2025, and they seem pleased with him, possibly planning to move on from Carr.

Even if Carr had played last season, his time on the field might have been limited due to injuries. In March 2025, he felt pain in his right shoulder. Medical evaluations later indicated he had a labral tear and notable degenerative changes in his rotator cuff. Although surgery was considered, there were concerns about whether he could regain his previous performance levels.

Throughout his career, Carr played in 169 regular season games, achieving a record of 77 wins and 92 losses with a completion percentage of 65.1%. He threw for 41,245 yards, 257 touchdowns, and 112 interceptions in total—nine seasons were spent with the Las Vegas Raiders and the last two with the Saints.