“There were multiple teams that reached out to me this offseason,” Derek Carr told NFL Network, making clear he has not closed the door on an NFL return. Carr, who retired in May 2025, said he is enjoying family life but would consider returning only in a “special situation,” underscoring that any contacts were exploratory and not confirmations of a deal.
Derek Carr during the 2025 season.
Derek Carr: what he said
Carr told NFL Network that several franchises checked in this offseason but he declined to name any teams. “I never say never,” Carr said, adding that any comeback would have to align with his personal priorities and a team’s immediate needs.
He stressed family and life after football — “having too much fun hanging out with my wife, hanging out with my kids, and trying to get good at golf” — while also admitting he still feels the competitive pull: “I think I’m just at the point where I just want to win. I want to win.”
Those remarks prompted conversations across the league, but Carr and reporters have not provided public confirmation from any teams, and no transactions have been reported. In other words: teams reaching out was Carr’s account, not an independently verified list of suitors.
Medical update and playing risk
Saints medical scans from earlier in 2025 showed a labral tear and degenerative changes to Carr’s right rotator cuff. Those findings were central to Carr and New Orleans discussing whether surgery was appropriate, and medical staff cautioned there was no guarantee surgery would fully restore the arm strength and long-term durability he had during his peak seasons.
Labral tears can cause pain, instability and loss of control on certain throws; degenerative rotator cuff changes may reduce velocity and endurance. For a quarterback, those problems create uncertainty about consistent accuracy and the ability to withstand a full season’s workload.
Because of that uncertainty, any team considering Carr would almost certainly require fresh independent medical evaluations, targeted imaging and conversations with specialists about recovery projections and re-injury risk before advancing to contract talks or a trade.
Saints contract and roster angle
Contractually, the New Orleans Saints still control Carr’s rights. He signed a four-year, $150 million deal in 2023; his retirement did not nullify the team’s hold on his NFL rights. That means interested clubs would need to work with New Orleans to acquire him unless the Saints released him.
The Saints drafted quarterback Tyler Shough in 2025, a development that factors into New Orleans’ calculus. With Shough on the roster, the Saints have a younger option under team control, which could make them more willing to consider trade scenarios rather than immediately reinserting Carr into their plans.
Any movement would also hinge on salary-cap mechanics, guaranteed money structure and how Carr’s potential return would fit the Saints’ roster timeline, especially given the medical variables at play.
Saints rookie Tyler Shough was drafted in 2025.
How a comeback could happen
There are a few realistic paths back for Carr. One is a trade: a club facing an unexpected QB shortage or seeking a veteran stopgap could negotiate with New Orleans for his rights. Another is a short-term, situational signing if a contender loses a starter and needs an immediate veteran presence late in the season.
Because Carr is retired, interested teams would either have to acquire him from the Saints, wait until he is officially released, or negotiate some arrangement that satisfies all parties. Carr’s own condition that it be a “special situation” suggests he is unlikely to sign for a long rebuild-oriented project.
Importantly, Carr said multiple teams “reached out,” but those were exploratory conversations rather than public offers. Any concrete roster move would require medical clearance, mutual interest on financial terms and Carr’s readiness to accept the role and timing.
Quick take and stats
Carr retired after 11 NFL seasons at age 35. He is a four-time Pro Bowler. In 2025 he played 10 games and posted a 67.7% completion rate with 2,145 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Across 169 regular-season games, Carr has 41,245 passing yards, 257 touchdowns and 112 interceptions. Teams weighing a potential short-term addition will balance that production and leadership track record against the shoulder findings, potential decline in arm strength and the financial/roster implications of acquiring him.
Verdict
Carr’s comments leave the possibility open but make an immediate return unlikely without a clearly defined opportunity. Medical uncertainty in his throwing shoulder and the Saints’ contractual control are the biggest obstacles to a quick roster move.
A true “special situation” — such as a late-season injury to a starter on a playoff-bound team — could change the calculus, turning exploratory outreach into a short-term signing or trade. Absent that, expect continued interest and conversation rather than an imminent transaction.
FAQ
Is Derek Carr likely to return to the NFL?
He has not ruled it out and told NFL Network multiple teams contacted him, but he also said it would take a “special situation.” Given his shoulder findings and the Saints’ contractual control, a return is possible but uncertain.
Do the Saints still control Derek Carr’s rights?
Yes. Carr signed a four-year, $150 million contract in 2023 and the Saints retain his rights while he is retired, meaning any team that wants him would need to work with New Orleans.
How serious is Carr’s shoulder injury and what does it mean for a comeback?
Saints medical scans showed a labral tear and degenerative rotator cuff changes. Those findings can limit throwing strength and durability and made surgery a risky proposition without guaranteed results, so medical clearance would be a major hurdle for any team.
Source: Fox News — Retired Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr says multiple teams have reached out about a comeback.
