Derek Carr staying prepared for NFL comeback: ‘If God wanted me to do it, I gotta be ready’

Derek Carr proved he has a future in media if he wants it, but the retired quarterback might still have a future on the field.

Carr made his media debut last Friday night, when he joined YouTube’s broadcast of the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers as a studio analyst. And almost immediately, Carr showed he belongs in front of the camera. He was comfortable, entertaining, and his analysis was easy to absorb.

This week, Carr joined The Dan Patrick Show and explained he was comfortable as an analyst because it’s what he’s been doing for the last 20 years. Break down film, keep it simple and mix in a Jon Gruden impression or two. Now as a 34-year-old retired NFL quarterback, is media Carr’s calling? Carr may have enjoyed his one night on YouTube, but he wouldn’t close the door completely on a return to the field.

“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.”

Carr retired after just 11 seasons earlier this year, in part, due to a significant shoulder injury that would reportedly require surgery. But Carr is right, it has to be harder for him to close the door completely on a return to the NFL because he is jsut 34 years old. Derek Carr can say “never” to a comeback today, but what if his shoulder feels great and he gets the itch to play again in two years? At the age of 36 and coming off two years of rest, there will be teams who are interested.

After Friday night’s performance, networks should be interested in Carr as a broadcaster, and a broadcasting gig could be what ultimately keeps him retired. Because even if he gets the itch to play again, making millions of dollars to break down film and talk football a few times a week for six months out of the year, might be more appealing than coming out of retirement to get physically punished by NFL defenders.