Derek Carr opens door to shock NFL return months after $30m retirement decision

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr has opened the door to a potential comeback - just months after walking away from his $30million contract.

The 34-year-old shocked fans after officially retiring on May 10 due to a shoulder injury and 'significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff.' 

Since hanging up his cleats, Carr has since taken on new hobbies such as farming - as revealed by the Daily Mail - and an analyst role as part of the NFL's season opener.

However, now, it appears he's already eyeing a potential return to the field after refusing to rule out a shock comeback to the league. 

Speaking to Dan Patrick, Carr was asked if he would ever return. He said: 'I wouldn't say never. 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'.

However, the former Saints and Raiders quarterback did admit that he's not ready to come back 'today' and would need more time to get in shape. 

He continued: '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.' 

Carr shocked fans earlier this year by revealing that he would hang up his cleats rather than face an arduous return from shoulder injury. 

Playing through the injury and surgery were also considered as options for the longtime NFL quarterback before he decided to step away from his playing career. 

By retiring, Carr forfeited his $30million guaranteed salary for 2025 - in exchange for a $10million roster bonus he was paid.

Earlier this month, the Daily Mail caught up with Carr and his post-retirement life, which has seen him turn to gardening. Or as he calls it; 'mini farming'. 

'We're growing our own food and our own crops in our backyard,' he told the Daily Mail.

'Oh, man, I got all kinds of veggies, we're crushing it,' he says, before painting a picture of his new office.

'We got all the berries. I got a watermelon, zucchini, squash, broccoli. I got spinach over there, tomatoes, peppers. We have chickens, so I get about eight eggs a day.'

Carr used to spend a large chunk of his summer training his mind and his arm - he would be throwing balls and watching film for a couple of hours a day. Now, he says, 'I gotta get something to fill that [void].'