​Derek Carr has made it clear that he’s open to a return to the NFL if the right situation presents itself, and his overarching goal remains simple: to win a Super Bowl and finally put his game on solid footing by playing for a strong, cohesive team. In that context, Carr pointed to the Los Angeles Rams as a potential “special” opportunity that could satisfy his current needs. While appearing on Good Morning Football on Friday, Carr said that several teams have reached out to gauge his interest in playing in 2026. He offered a cautious but hopeful stance, noting, “I’ll never say never, but it would take a special situation,” and added that he’s heard from a few clubs. His bottom-line aim is unmistakable: “I just want to win. I want to win.”
The Rams are positioned to contend in the upcoming season and could benefit from a veteran presence as a backup, even amid ongoing talks about how to shape the quarterback room with the players already on the roster. Signing Carr to a role behind Matthew Stafford—without the immediate pressure of competing with Stetson Bennett or Ty Simpson for the starting job—would align with the team’s needs. If Stafford were to suffer an injury, Los Angeles would already have a credible option on the depth chart, offering continuity and stability rather than scrambling for a temporary fix.
If Carr’s objective is to rebuild his career and experience sustained success for the first time, modeling his path after players who reinvented their careers by learning from seasoned veterans could be his best route. Learning from a coach like Sean McVay and working alongside a veteran like Stafford could help him regain confidence and consistency. With three weeks to go before training camp begins, Carr has time to shape the situation to his advantage.
Logically, Carr isn’t aiming to return to the Browns or the Cardinals. The Rams had shown interest in bringing back Jimmy Garoppolo for another season, which would have given Simpson ample time to develop behind the scenes, but Garoppolo’s status remains uncertain, with retirement plans still a possibility and no explicit commitment to a return in Los Angeles at this time. Carr last played in the NFL with the Saints in 2024, posting 15 touchdowns over 10 games. At 35, he still拥有 enough years ahead to spend a year as a Rams backup, potentially accelerating his readiness for opportunities that could arise in 2027. The parallel with Sam Darnold’s trajectory—joining the 49ers in 2023, winning 14 games across two franchises, and gradually emerging as a viable option—illustrates a plausible route for Carr if he can latch onto a winning environment.
Darnold, younger than Carr, remains a more attractive free-agent option in 2027 if he can establish himself on a winning team—even in a backup role, potentially earning a handful of starts along the way—rather than signing with a poor squad or sitting idle. If Carr’s stated priority is winning, the choice before him presents a stark, almost blindingly clear path: the L.A. Rams. But the crucial question remains whether the Rams want Carr in that capacity and whether Carr truly prioritizes winning over the chance to start somewhere else. In all likelihood, he will face a tough trade-off: secure a coveted backup role with a legitimate Super Bowl window or chase opportunities that come with more obvious paths to starting duties elsewhere. The bottom line is that, for a quarterback with Carr’s resume and ambitions, the Rams represent the most directly aligned opportunity to chase a championship—a scenario that could define the next chapter of his career—even if it means accepting a support role rather than an immediate starting job.