Speaking on NFL Network's Good Morning Football, the retired quarterback revealed that multiple teams contacted him this offseason about coming out of retirement.
"I'll never say never. It would take a special situation," Carr said. "There were multiple teams that reached out to me this offseason, and I won't say who or how, but they reached out. Just gave them my interest on what I wanted to do and all those things. They were good, solid football teams, but a couple of them in some different situations."
The Tampering Wrinkle
Carr did not name the teams, which may be for good reason.
He was still under contract with the New Orleans Saints when he retired, meaning New Orleans technically still holds his rights, and other clubs cannot contact him without the Saints' permission.
If those teams did not get permission first, they would be in violation of the NFL's tampering rules.
Longtime Raiders QB Derek Carr told reporters this weekend that several teams reached out to him this offseason.
— Just Blog Baby (@JustBlogBaby) July 13, 2026
And while he's happy in retirement and said it would take a "special situation," Carr isn't saying "never" just yet. pic.twitter.com/40psK1L1gd
The Saints would also likely want trade compensation from any team that wanted to bring Carr back.
Notably, Pittsburgh and Minnesota were arguably the only "good, solid" teams that entered the new league year in March needing a starting quarterback.
Where He Stands
Carr, 35, retired in May 2025 after 11 NFL seasons, spending nine years with the Raiders and his final two with the Saints, earning four Pro Bowl selections along the way.
He entered the offseason open to a return but encountered what has been described as a tepid market, and he has since settled into life away from the game.
"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," Carr said.
Derek Carr says NFL teams are approaching him about coming out of retirement and hitting the field again.
— Kentucky Girl (@Notwokenow) July 11, 2026
He retired in 2025 with 2 seasons remaining on a 4 year, $150 million contract.
Carr earned about $195 million during his NFL career and has a net worth estimated to be… pic.twitter.com/PbYfICTPFm
Any team seriously considering a call would also need to evaluate how his shoulder has recovered, as the injury that ended his Saints tenure combined with his age makes him a big risk.
With training camp approaching, Carr's career is likely over.
But if a starting quarterback goes down over the next five months, expect the phone to ring again.
