Derek Carr has repeatedly teased the idea of coming out of retirement on his podcast.
Now, the former New Orleans Saints quarterback may actually do it.
According to a new report from the NFL Network, Carr could come out of retirement for “the right situation” as teams inquire about his availability this offseason. The report said that teams have already reached out to Carr gauge the possibility, but in this case, the Saints would also need to work through any such deal as they hold the rights to his contract.
Carr unexpectedly retired last May, citing a shoulder injury. As part of his stepping away, the quarterback and the Saints agreed to a deal that returned his $30 million guaranteed base salary.
If Carr wanted to come out of retirement, the Saints would have to find a trade partner and agree to compensation to make it happen. New Orleans worked through a similar scenario a few years ago when former coach Sean Payton returned to coaching, receiving two draft picks (a 2023 first-round selection and a 2024 second-round pick) to send him to the Denver Broncos.
In this case, though, the NFL Network reported the compensation for Carr “surely wouldn’t be an unreasonable ask” given the emergence of quarterback Tyler Shough. The Saints drafted Shough a month before Carr’s retirement, when it appeared his shoulder injury would at least threaten his availability for the 2025 season.
Carr, however, is reportedly healthy now and has begun throwing “part of his regular exercise routine.” The report said that Carr’s shoulder has responded well to rest. The 34-year-old avoided having surgery on the ailment, which the team described as a labral tear. The Saints said at the time that Carr also had “significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff.”
Asked about the possibility of Carr coming out of retirement in the offseason, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said in January that he hadn’t talked to Carr in months.
Since retirement, Carr has done some media appearances — most notably for the podcast he launched with his brother, David. On that show, Carr has hinted several times he could be open to playing again — last doing so when the Las Vegas Raiders, his former team, hired Klint Kubiak, his former offensive coordinator with the Saints, to be their next head coach.
“Congratulations, you know how I feel about you,” Carr said, referring to Kubiak. “Hey, and what did Chingy say? I’m only one call away. I’ll come help the kid.”
“The kid,” as Carr mentioned, alluded to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza — who the Raiders will likely draft with the first overall pick in April. Mendoza’s pending selection, though, is probably why a reunion with Carr for Las Vegas is unlikely.
Still, multiple teams are going to be in the market for a quarterback this offseason and will check in on Carr’s status. And while the NFL Network said Carr isn’t “actively chasing” a return, it appears he’s willing to listen.