If Derek Carr decides to lace up the cleats again for the 2026 NFL season, we already know one thing for certain: he’s not coming back just to help a team rebuild from the ground up.
Carr, 34, stepped away from the game last May after a right shoulder injury ended his 2024 campaign and ultimately led to his retirement. He left behind a solid résumé - 41,245 career passing yards, 257 touchdowns, and 112 interceptions - numbers that put him firmly in the conversation as one of the most productive quarterbacks of his era, even if team success never quite followed him.
But here we are in February, and Carr’s name is back in the mix. According to multiple reports, as quarterback injuries piled up late in the season and into the playoffs, several teams began doing their homework on Carr - checking in to see if the former Saints signal-caller might be open to a return. And with the 2026 offseason shaping up to be a bit of a quarterback carousel - limited options in free agency, a draft class with more questions than answers, and a thin trade market - Carr suddenly looks like one of the more intriguing veteran options out there.
Carr didn’t shy away from the rumors. On the latest episode of his podcast Home Grown with David & Derek Carr, he addressed the speculation head-on. And he was crystal clear: if he comes back, it won’t be for just any team.
“Would I do it? Yes.
Would I do it for anybody? Absolutely not,” Carr said.
“I told you two things: I have to be healthy, and I’d want a chance to win a Super Bowl. And obviously, that’s a tough thing to find.
That’s hard to do. That’s not easy.”
So, what does that mean in terms of potential landing spots?
The New York Jets have been floated as a possible destination - and on paper, Carr would be a significant upgrade at quarterback. He played in 10 games during the 2024 season, completing 67.7% of his passes for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. If he can replicate that level of efficiency, he’d offer the kind of stability the Jets have been chasing for years.
WFAN’s Evan Roberts summed it up well: “I’m intrigued by Derek Carr. I would agree overall that defining him as a bridge is the most accurate [description]. I think he could give you three-to-four seasons of pretty good quarterback play.”
But here’s the catch - and it’s a big one. The Jets are coming off a 3-14 season under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn, a year that prompted sweeping changes to the coaching staff.
This isn’t a team that’s one piece away. They’re in the middle of a reset, and Carr has made it clear he’s not looking to be part of a long-term rebuild.
If Carr is serious about a return - and everything he’s said suggests he is, under the right conditions - then teams like the Indianapolis Colts or Minnesota Vikings could make more sense. Both have pieces in place, both are closer to playoff contention, and both could benefit from a veteran presence under center.
Carr’s future remains up in the air, but one thing is clear: if he comes back, it’ll be on his terms. He wants a shot at a ring, not just a roster spot. And in a league where quarterback stability is gold, don’t be surprised if a contender comes calling.