The New York Jets head into this offseason with one glaring priority: figuring out their quarterback situation. After the Justin Fields experiment didn’t pan out and with the rest of the QB room offering little long-term promise, the Jets are back at the drawing board. Whether it's through a trade, free agency, or the draft, they need a new signal-caller - and fast.
One name that briefly surfaced in the conversation? Derek Carr.
But before Jets fans get too excited, let’s pump the brakes. Carr is retired, and while the door isn’t completely shut on a comeback, he made it clear on the Home Grown with David & Derek Carr podcast that his return would come with two very specific conditions - and neither aligns with the current state of the Jets.
“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.”
That’s the line in the sand. Health is one hurdle, but the bigger issue for the Jets is Carr’s desire to join a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
As things stand, New York simply isn’t in that tier. They’re still a few pieces - and probably a few years - away from being a real playoff threat, let alone chasing a Lombardi Trophy.
So while Carr might’ve been a solid veteran presence to help develop the Jets’ young offensive weapons and bring some stability under center, he’s not interested in a rebuild. And frankly, that’s understandable. If you’re going to unretire and put your body on the line again, it better be for a shot at the big one - not to serve as a stopgap on a team trying to find its identity.
Carr’s stance effectively removes the Jets - and several other QB-needy teams - from the conversation. He’s not coming back for just any opportunity. It has to be the right one.
That leaves the Jets back where they started: searching for a veteran quarterback who can steady the ship in the short term while they continue to evaluate long-term options. Names like Tua Tagovailoa, Kirk Cousins, and Kyler Murray are expected to be on the radar. Each comes with their own set of questions - health, age, scheme fit - but all three represent more realistic options than trying to lure Carr out of retirement.
At this point, the most likely scenario is that whoever starts the season under center for the Jets may eventually give way to a rookie later in the year. That’s been a familiar script in recent seasons, and unless something changes dramatically, it could play out that way again in 2026.
Bottom line: Derek Carr isn’t walking through that door. The Jets need to keep hunting for a quarterback who fits where they are now - not where they hope to be someday.