NEW ORLEANS — Just hours before kickoff at Super Bowl LX, a bombshell report has surfaced regarding a quarterback who hasn’t taken a snap in nearly a year. Derek Carr, who stunned the league by hanging up his cleats last May, is reportedly eyeing a return to the gridiron.
According to NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo, the 34-year-old signal-caller has been “slowly rehabbing” the shoulder injury that forced him into early retirement. With his rotator cuff responding well to rest, the “never say never” scenario Carr alluded to in 2024 is becoming a reality.
The rights, the leverage, and the rookie
Here is the situation: New Orleans still holds Carr’s contractual rights. When he retired, the Saints placed him on the reserve/retired list, tolling his contract. If Carr officially files for reinstatement, he is property of the New Orleans Saints.
But he isn’t playing in the Big Easy. That ship sailed, circled the globe, and docked permanently elsewhere.
The Saints have zero reason to mess with their current formula. Tyler Shough, the team’s second-round pick out of Louisville, didn’t just survive his rookie campaign; he thrived. Taking over midway through the 2025 season, Shough threw for over 2,200 yards and 10 touchdowns in just nine starts, proving he is the future. Bringing Carr back into that locker room isn’t just unnecessary; it’s malpractice.
This creates a fascinating market inefficiency New Orleans can exploit. Quarterback-needy teams are desperate. We saw it last September when Joe Burrow’s season was derailed by that nasty Grade 3 turf toe injury. The Bengals called about Carr then. Other teams did their homework, too.
“I’ve learned that when I say never, it usually happens.” — Derek Carr, May 2025 (Upon announcing his retirement)
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
General Manager Mickey Loomis is now holding a wildcard. In an offseason defined by a weak free-agent QB class and a top-heavy draft, a veteran with four Pro Bowls on his résumé is a premium asset. If a team like the Jets, Giants, or even a contender with an injury crisis calls, the Saints could flip a “retired” asset into a Day 2 or Day 3 draft pick.
Carr gets a fresh start. The Saints get compensation for a player who was never taking another snap for them. It’s the rare NFL transaction where everybody actually wins.
