UCLA has added a familiar and accomplished voice to its football operation, bringing Derek Carr aboard as a special advisor to Bob Chesney.
The school announced Monday that the former NFL quarterback will help Chesney and the Bruins’ offensive staff with game-planning strategy while also working directly with UCLA’s quarterbacks. The role is voluntary, but it doesn’t come out of nowhere. Carr was already around the program during spring practice, and he has a built-in connection to UCLA general manager Darrick Yray.
Yray started his coaching career at Fresno State and was there from 2008-14, overlapping with Carr’s run as the Bulldogs’ quarterback from 2009-13. Now the two are back together, only this time in Westwood.
“We are excited to welcome Derek to our program,” Chesney said in a statement released by the school. “He has played the quarterback position at a high level for more than a decade, and his experience, leadership and football knowledge will be an incredible resource for our coaching staff and student-athletes.
What stands out most is his passion for the game and his commitment to developing young people. Derek will have a tremendous impact on our players and is a great addition to our program.”
Carr said the chance to work with Chesney and the Bruins was an easy one to embrace, especially because of his long relationship with Yray.
“I've known Darrick for a long time and have great respect for the work he's done throughout his career,” Carr said. “The opportunity to help Coach Chesney, the staff and the quarterbacks at UCLA was one that really excited me. I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences and helping support the program in any way I can.”
Carr brings a long résumé to the table. The second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, taken No. 36 overall, spent 11 seasons with the Oakland/ Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints.
He made four Pro Bowls and finished his NFL career with 41,245 passing yards and 257 touchdowns. He still stands as the Raiders’ all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions.
His college career at Fresno State was just as decorated. Carr was a two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year and won the 2013 Sammy Baugh Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top passer.
As a senior, he led the country with 5,083 passing yards and 50 touchdowns, then finished his college run with 12,842 passing yards and 113 touchdowns. Fresno State later retired his No. 4 jersey.
Now that background is headed to UCLA’s quarterback room, offensive meetings and, most directly, to Nico Iamaleava.
In Other News...
UCLA Camp Is Off To A Strong Start Despite Two Key Concerns
UCLAs fall camp opened with a welcome sign for Bob Chesney and his staff: most of the roster is healthy enough to practice without restrictions, and a cluster of important players have already been cleared for full work. Among the names back in the mix are Leland Smith, Nico Davillier, Rodrick Pleasant, TaShawn James, Aiden Gobaira, Wayne Knight and Jordan Davis, which gives the Bruins a much fuller picture as they begin sorting out depth and roles.
The two lingering concerns are easier to spot because of how clean the rest of camp has looked. Ryan McCulloch is still out and has not yet been cleared after an injury issue that also followed him through spring practice, while Scooter Jackson remains tied up in academic eligibility matters. For a program trying to build momentum in camp, those are the kind of absences that matter, even if the broader health report has been encouraging. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Fans Already Have One Big Reason To Watch The Offensive Line
Training camp has already given UCLA fans one clear thing to monitor under new head coach Bob Chesney: the offensive line. Chesney is installing a rushing attack shaped much like the one he leaned on at James Madison, which makes the front five a central part of how this offense will look and function once the season starts. With multiple new starters expected up front, the Bruins are asking a unit in transition to come together quickly while also setting the tone for a ground game that figures to be the backbone of the new system.
The most interesting battle so far is at center, where Sam Yoon and Riley Robell are competing for the job. Even so, it is still early enough in camp that sweeping judgments about the line would be premature, especially with so many moving parts and so little time together. The better read for UCLA may come later, when the group has had time to settle in, build chemistry and show whether it can improve steadily as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Just Got A Preseason Boost Fans Will Love
Bruce Feldmans latest freaks list brought a little preseason shine to Westwood, with UCLA edge rusher Sahir West landing at No. 34 and quarterback Nico Iamaleava checking in at No. 67. For a Bruins team trying to turn momentum into something more tangible this fall, getting that kind of attention for both lines of offense and defense is a reminder that the roster has some real high-end athletic traits. West, a junior transfer from JMU, is coming off a strong 2025 season and is expected to be part of the starting edge rotation, which only adds to the intrigue around how disruptive UCLA can be up front.
Iamaleavas inclusion matters for a different reason, because UCLAs starting quarterback has already shown he can stress defenses with his legs as well as his arm. He led the Bruins in rushing in 2025 and has reportedly flashed notable athleticism in the offseason, which gives the offense a dynamic that can change the shape of a game if it holds up. Put together, West and Iamaleava give UCLA a pair of preseason talking points that suggest there is more explosiveness on this roster than the usual offseason chatter might indicate. [Read more 🡒]