Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr said on his podcast this week that he remains open to returning to the NFL in 2026, but only under very specific conditions: his surgically repaired shoulder must feel right and the opportunity must be with a team that has a legitimate shot at winning the Super Bowl. Carr, 34, retired nine months ago while still under contract to the Saints, and he acknowledged teams have contacted him but that he has turned down some offers that were not a good fit. He made clear any comeback would be selective and contingent on health and roster context rather than a desire simply to play again.
- Carr confirmed he would consider returning to the NFL in 2026 if medically cleared and if a contender shows interest; he is 34 years old and retired nine months ago.
- The quarterback cited a shoulder injury from last season as a key condition for any return; he said the shoulder needs to feel good before committing.
- Carr said he has already declined multiple inquiries from teams, suggesting some level of interest around the league but not from teams he considers suitable.
- At the time of his retirement Carr remained under contract with the New Orleans Saints, meaning any move would likely require permission or a rights transaction.
- Carr framed his potential return as opportunity- and health-driven rather than a general desire to resume playing, emphasizing a Super Bowl chance as a key criterion.
- Logistical steps remain: permission to talk to other teams and clarity on what the Saints might seek in a trade for his rights.
Background
Derek Carr completed a lengthy NFL career and announced his retirement from the New Orleans Saints nine months before his recent podcast comments. The 34-year-old suffered a shoulder issue last season that he has cited as a primary factor in his decision-making about returning. Carr signed with the Saints prior to that season and remained under contract when he retired, a status that complicates immediate free-agent movement because teams must address rights and potential trade requirements.
Carr has been regarded around the league as a veteran starter with playoff experience, which helps explain why teams would still inquire about his availability despite his retirement. The risk-reward calculus for contenders is familiar: an experienced starter could provide short-term upside, but health, cap considerations and long-term roster plans affect teams’ willingness to pursue a player coming out of retirement. The Saints’ stance on allowing Carr to speak with other teams has not been made public, leaving procedural questions unanswered.
Main Event
On his podcast Thursday, Carr answered directly when asked whether he would resume his playing career, saying first that he would if the right combination of health and team circumstances aligned. He explicitly tied any return to shoulder health, saying the physical readiness of his throwing shoulder would be non-negotiable. Carr also stressed that he would only consider situations where a team had a clear path to contending for a Super Bowl, saying that he would not sign just to be on a roster.
He indicated that some teams have already reached out about his availability but that those approaches did not meet his criteria, noting he has declined a few offers so far. Those refusals suggest there is market interest but not necessarily from the clubs he views as realistic championship contenders. Because he retired while under contract to New Orleans, any club seeking to add him would likely need to clear procedural hurdles with the Saints, and possibly arrange a trade for his rights.
Carr repeatedly framed his thinking as pragmatic: he wants to play if and only if it aligns with both his health and competitive goals. He did not name teams that contacted him, and he did not provide a medical timeline beyond saying the shoulder has to feel right. The combination of medical clearance, team fit and contract mechanics will determine whether the conversations he described progress to an actual roster move.
Analysis & Implications
From a leaguewide perspective, Carr’s comments reintroduce a veteran quarterback option into the conversation for contenders weighing short-term upgrades at the position. Teams with unstable quarterback situations late into the offseason sometimes turn to experienced veterans to stabilize the roster before the trade deadline; Carr’s conditional interest makes him an attractive, low-risk target for clubs that believe they are one roster piece from serious contention. However, any team pursuing him would need to balance the urgency of a playoff push against the uncertainty of his recent shoulder issue.
For the Saints, Carr’s posture complicates roster and asset management. If New Orleans prefers to extract value rather than permit unrestricted talks, a negotiating pathway could include a trade in exchange for draft capital or player compensation. Conversely, if the Saints decide they will release or grant permission to speak to teams, that would expedite Carr’s ability to sign but could also mean losing leverage to recoup value. The franchise’s internal evaluation of Carr’s medical status and its own quarterback plans will shape how permissive it is.
For Carr personally, returning under the right conditions could extend his career and provide a shot at the championship he mentioned. But any comeback carries reputational and medical risks: a failed return could reinforce concerns about durability, while a successful run could boost his legacy. Agents, front offices and team medical staffs will need to align quickly if talks evolve into a formal pursuit before the 2026 season.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Known Fact |
|---|---|
| Age | 34 |
| Retirement announced | Nine months ago |
| Contract status at retirement | Under contract to New Orleans Saints |
| Key medical issue | Shoulder injury from last season |
The table above summarizes the verifiable facts Carr and media reports have disclosed so far. Those datapoints frame the practical constraints any team faces when assessing him: an older quarterback coming off an injury, still under contract, who is selective about destinations. That profile typically narrows the field to teams willing to accommodate medical evaluations and potential rights transactions.
Reactions & Quotes
“Would I do it? Yes. Would I do it for anybody? Absolutely not.”
Derek Carr
Context: Carr used this line to underscore that a return would be conditional and selective rather than a general comeback for its own sake.
“I’d have to be healthy and I’d want a chance to win a Super Bowl.”
Derek Carr
Context: He repeated his two central criteria—medical readiness and competitive opportunity—when discussing potential suitors.
“I had to say no a couple times so far.”
Derek Carr
Context: Carr confirmed that teams have made contact but that he has already turned down overtures that did not meet his standards.
Unconfirmed
- No public confirmation which specific teams have contacted Carr or made formal offers; identities were not disclosed.
- It is not publicly confirmed whether the New Orleans Saints will grant permission to Carr to speak freely with other teams or what compensation they might demand in a trade.
- The precise current medical evaluation and clearance timeline for Carr’s shoulder have not been released beyond his general statement that it must feel good.
Bottom Line
Derek Carr has left the door ajar for a 2026 comeback, but he has set narrow terms: he must be medically ready and he must join a team he believes can contend for a Super Bowl. The combination of his age, the shoulder issue and his contract status with the Saints creates practical hurdles that clubs and Carr will need to navigate before any roster move can happen.
Any developments will hinge on three interlocking elements: Carr’s medical clearance, how permissive the Saints are about his rights, and whether a contender emerges willing to meet both. For contenders weighing a short-term upgrade at quarterback, Carr presents a conditional but potentially meaningful option; for the Saints and their front office, the situation presents both a negotiation challenge and an opportunity to recoup value if they choose not to keep him.