Derek Carr, who retired from the NFL under what he described as mysterious circumstances, has indicated that NFL teams have contacted him about a potential return to the league. Carr, who gave up $30 million in salary for 2025, stated that he is not ruling out a comeback but would only consider a "special situation" with a team that has a legitimate chance to win a Super Bowl.
"I never say never," Carr told the NFL Network. "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, 35, is currently prioritizing spending time with his family and developing his golf game. He expressed that his motivation for returning would be solely to compete for a championship. "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," he said. "I’m having too much fun hanging out with my wife, hanging out with my kids, and trying to get good at golf. So it would take a special deal."
As NFL teams approach their offseason training programs, Carr remains in a state of consideration. He mentioned that he is always training and would be in shape if an opportunity arose, though he anticipates potentially coaching his children's teams instead. The quarterback is aware that he could be a prominent option on the market if a contending team faces a sudden need for a starting quarterback due to injury.