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Derek Carr is willing to return, but he’s not putting the helmet on just anyone.
“Can I do it? Yes. Who can I do it for? Absolutely not,” Carr said on the ‘Home Grown’ podcast he hosts with his brother David. The episode dropped on Thursday and is already making waves throughout the league.
The 34-year-old quarterback made it clear that there are two things that are non-negotiable if he doesn’t want to retire. Health comes first. That doesn’t seem to be a problem anymore. His older brother David actually joked on the podcast about how hard Derek is pitching these days. This tells you everything you need to know about Derek’s shoulder position.
What is the second requirement? This is a real chance to win the Super Bowl.
“I said two things: I need to be healthy, and I want a chance to win a Super Bowl. And obviously, that’s hard to find. It’s hard. It’s not easy,” he explained.
Carr retired from the NFL last May while with the New Orleans Saints. The team said he was dealing with a labral tear and “severe degenerative changes in the rotator cuff.” It’s not a minor issue for a quarterback, but from what his brother says now, Carr has clearly bounced back.
But for any team that might be interested, there’s a wrinkle here. Carr is retired. There are still 2 years left In his saint contract. That means New Orleans still holds his rights. Any team looking to acquire him would first have to work out trade compensation with the Saints.
In his final season in 2024, he threw for 2,145 yards over 10 games with the Saints. He has thrown 15 touchdowns to just five interceptions. Those are solid numbers for a player who is clearly dealing with shoulder issues.
During his career, the four-time Pro Bowler (all selections came during his time with the Raiders) recorded 41,245 passing yards. He has thrown 257 touchdowns and 112 interceptions in all NFL games.
So which teams actually make sense? That’s the question everyone is asking right now. Carr has made it clear that he is not chasing a paycheck or trying to be a placeholder. He wants a ring. The 34-year-old, who has had recent shoulder problems, cannot be accused of being selective.
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