Derek Carr is a name that many will still remember, having only retired in 2025. He has spent 11 years as a quarterback, having played for the Las Vegas Raiders and the New Orleans Saints. He has been selected in the Pro Bowl four times, and is largely known for leading the Raiders to the playoffs in 2016 and 2021.
Many felt that he had retired prematurely, which was primarily due to a severe rotator cuff injury. But it seems like the quarterback has ambitions to add more pages to his NFL story.
Derek Carr hints at NFL comeback
Carr has recently sparked rumors of unretirement during the week of the Super Bowl game. Reports suggested that he was open to joining a team ahead of the next season. In an interview on his podcast Home Grown with David & Derek Carr which he hosts alongside his brother, he confirmed the validity of those speculations.
Dec 29, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) walks the field before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Dec 29, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) walks the field before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
He responded that he is considering coming back from retirement but only for a strong team that can win the Lombardi Trophy. He said, “Would I come back? The answer is yes. Would I do it for anybody? Absolutely not. I’d have to be healthy and have a chance to win a Super Bowl.” He added that he was currently fit and has been called by franchises though he rejected them so far, “I had to say no a couple times so far.”
His experience and abilities warrant that considerable interest for him. Teams like the New York Jets, the Minnesota Vikings, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Miami Dolphins, and even former team the Raiders are all interested in bringing him back to the field. It is understood that they have to trade for him from the Saints as he is still on their salary cap.
Interestingly, none of these teams seem strong enough to challenge for the Super Bowl title. Many fans have also now responded to the ex-quarterback’s words and attacked him for his lofty demands.
Fans torch Derek Carr for Super Bowl demands
Many social media users believe that Carr has no right to demand a team challenging for the Lombardi Trophy to sign him. Rather, they say that he has no credentials to ask such a thing from any team.
One user said, “Spoiler Alert: No Super Bowl competing team wants Derek Carr as their QB.”
A second user wrote, “Why is bro acting like hes Tom Brady 😭”.
A third user replied, “Bro hasn’t even won a playoff game but go off Derek 😭🥴”.
Another added, “Derek, read the NFL room. No NFL team capable of winning the SB next year wants you as their QB1.”
A fifth commented, “I mean this so respectfully… No team that needs a quarterback, and would solve that problem with Derek Carr, is going to be contending for a Super Bowl”.
A sixth user remarked, “Any team you play for will not win the Super Bowl”.
The next months will be crucial as it will be seen whether Derek Carr will come back from retirement, and which team he will do so for.