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Former Pro Bowl Quarterback Hints At NFL Comeback

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Sep 12, 2025 9:38 AM ET

It's only been a few months since former Pro Bowl QB Derek Carr announced his retirement from the NFL, but it appears that he's already having second thoughts about it.

Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show, Carr said that he's continued training to stay in shape. Despite making it clear that he was training just for the love of training and is still going through rehab on his shoulder, he believes he's "gotta be ready" in case "God wanted me to do it." But Carr ultimately declared that he's not coming back right now.

“I wouldn’t say never,” Carr told Patrick. “Because I’ve learned that when I say never, it usually happens. I think we’ve all probably learned that. For me, I’m training because I love to train. That’s going to be the rest of my life. I love to train.

“I throw a football every now and then with my kids and to my buddy for fun because it’s part of my rehab for my shoulder… I’m still doing those things, I’ve always felt like, even though I’m done, if God wanted me to do it, I gotta be ready. I don’t want to go out there and not be ready. I’ll be ready, but I’m not coming back. Right now, today, I’m not coming back.”

Derek Carr staying prepared for NFL comeback: ‘If God wanted me to do it, I gotta be ready’ https://t.co/BK6Qv9uee4
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 11, 2025

Carr and the NFL

Carr played his first nine NFL seasons with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, becoming the team's all-time leading passer and leading them to the playoffs twice. He made four Pro Bowls with the team and even finished third in the 2016 NFL MVP voting.

But after becoming a free agent in 2023, he signed a four-year, $150 million deal with the New Orleans Saints. Despite going 9-8 in his first year with the team, things fell apart the following season - as did Carr's body. After sustaining a hand injury and a concussion, his season was shut down after having played just 10 games.

Things got worse in the offseason as it was revealed that he had been battling a serious shoulder injury and degenerative rotator cuff issues. After rumors that he would be missing the entirety of the 2025 season to battle those issues, Carr stunned everyone by instead retiring in May.

It sounds like he's in no hurry to return, but he seems willing to stay ready in case the opportunity arises.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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