​A good quarterback is hard to come by in the NFL. That’s why, when teams finally uncover a franchise-caliber signal-caller, they do everything in their power to keep him for as long as possible. Yet, every so often, a starting-quality option becomes available, and when such a player hits the market, there’s almost always a rush to sign him. Recently, a retired former Pro Bowl quarterback attracted interest from several teams this offseason. It wasn’t Philip Rivers, who is now 45. It was someone nearly a decade younger.
As the offseason began, whispers circulated that Derek Carr could return to the field, but only for the right organization. With so many teams eager for a new starting quarterback, the prevailing expectation was that Carr would find a favorable situation, possibly even with the Minnesota Vikings, who were frequently linked to a trade for Mac Jones. Of course, no trade materialized, as Minnesota instead won the Kyler Murray sweepstakes, landing a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback for a bargain price of just $1.3 million. While the Vikings’ name dropped off the list, several other teams remained in the market for improved play under center, so might Carr be an option?
In Carr’s own words, “multiple” teams reached out to him about playing in 2026. He, however, declined them all. “I never say never. It would take a special situation. There were multiple teams that reached out to me this offseason. I won’t say who or how, but they reached out and were gauging my interest on what I wanted to do. They were good, solid football teams.” Carr did not disclose which organizations or which agents were involved, and he did not reveal whether the New Orleans Saints—who technically still hold his rights—had been informed about the inquiries. If the Saints were unaware, they could potentially pursue tampering charges against the teams that contacted Carr.
Still, Carr is exercising discernment at this stage of his career. He says he’d only consider unretiring if he could find a truly “special” opportunity. “I’m just at the point where I just want to win. I 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. I’m having too much fun hanging out with my wife, spending time with my kids, and trying to get better at golf. So it would take a special deal.”Carr has already spent the 2025 season on the sideline, recovering from a shoulder injury that required surgery. While he may be ready to play again, there’s no guarantee he’ll choose to step back onto the field. If he doesn’t answer the call this year, he might stay retired indefinitely, because returning to elite-level football grows more difficult each year as he nears 40.
The notion of top quarterbacks changing teams and plotting a new course is as old as the league itself, and the reality remains: a player like Carr, if the circumstances align, could pivot a franchise’s trajectory. For now, though, he’s keeping his options open, weighing “special” opportunities against the simpler pleasures of family time and personal hobbies. The door is not closed, but the gate is guarded carefully, and the decision will hinge on finding that one extraordinary situation that convinces him to lace them up again.