By Reice Shipley
Copyright newsweek
Former Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr surprised everyone by stepping away from football this offseason. But it seems like Carr isn’t fully ready to close the door on his NFL career at this point.Carr’s decision to retire from football came after being diagnosed with a labral tear in his right shoulder, along with ‘significant degenerative changes’ to his rotator cuff, back in March, which likely would have held him out for the entirety of the 2025 season.Carr has remained in the football space following his retirement, serving as a studio analyst on YouTube’s broadcast of the Week 1 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers.More news: Ravens Star Set to Miss Second Straight GameBut while broadcasting may very well be in his future plans, Carr isn’t ruling out a return to the NFL one day either.Speaking with Dan Patrick on Thursday, Carr was asked directly whether he was completely done playing football. And Carr responded by saying that he will “never say never” on returning to the NFL one day.”I wouldn’t say never because I’ve learned that when I say never, it usually happens,” Carr said. “I think we’ve all probably learned that. So, for me right now, I’m training because I love to train. That’s gonna be the rest of my life. I love to train. I throw a football every now and then out in the front with my kids and with my buddy for fun, because it’s part of my rehab still for my shoulder.”I’m still just trying to get that back right from getting the shot and doing the rehab and all that. So I’m still doing those things. And so I always felt like, even though I’m done, you know, if God wanted me to do it, I’ve got to be ready. I don’t want to go out there and not be ready, you know. So I’ll be ready, but I’m not coming back. Like, right now, today, I’m not coming back.”More news: Lions Coach Holds Former First Round Pick Accountable for Week 1 StrugglesAny potential return to football for Carr would come in the 2026 NFL season at the earliest due to his injury. But given the fact that Carr is 34 years of age, there is at least a hope that he may have some solid football left in him.At his best, Carr was an incredibly underrated quarterback, making four Pro Bowls over the course of his 11-year NFL career. So if Carr does happen to have a change of heart, there may very well be teams interested in his services.For more on all things NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
