Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr has officially taken the next step in his football career, moving from the NFL playing field into coaching.
Carr has joined the UCLA Bruins as a special advisor to head coach Bob Chesney, giving the program one of the most experienced former NFL quarterbacks in college football. The move represents a significant development for Carr, who retired from the NFL after the 2024 season but has continued to keep the door open for a potential return to professional football.
In his new role, Carr is expected to assist Chesney and UCLA’s offensive staff with game-planning strategy while also working with the Bruins’ quarterbacks. That could make him a particularly valuable resource for UCLA’s young signal-callers, who will now have daily access to someone who spent 11 seasons navigating NFL defenses and locker rooms.
Carr’s move to UCLA is hardly a surprise considering his recent connection with the program. He visited a UCLA practice in April and spent time around Chesney and the Bruins’ players. That relationship appears to have developed into a more formal football role several months later.
The former Fresno State star brings an impressive résumé to Westwood. Carr spent nine seasons with the Raiders before joining the Saints in 2023. During his NFL career, he accumulated more than 41,000 passing yards and 257 touchdown passes while earning four Pro Bowl selections.
His final NFL chapter came in New Orleans, where a shoulder injury ultimately led him to step away from the game. Carr announced his retirement in 2025 rather than undergo surgery that could have jeopardized his season. At the time, he walked away from significant guaranteed money, making his decision one of the more unusual retirements involving a veteran quarterback in recent NFL history.
Carr later revealed that a return to the NFL was not completely off the table. Earlier in 2026, reports indicated that his shoulder had recovered and that he was throwing without limitations. Several teams reportedly explored the possibility of bringing him back, although Carr emphasized that he would only consider returning if the circumstances were right and he had a legitimate opportunity to compete for a Super Bowl.
For now, however, Carr appears ready to embrace coaching.
His experience could be particularly useful at UCLA because he understands the transition from college football to the professional level firsthand. He can provide quarterbacks with insight into preparation, defensive recognition, film study, leadership and the mental demands of playing the position.
The opportunity also gives Carr a chance to test whether coaching could become his long-term future in football. While his title is special advisor, his involvement with the offensive staff and quarterbacks could provide valuable experience if he eventually wants to pursue a full-time coaching career.
For the Bruins, adding a four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is an intriguing development. For Carr, it offers a new way to remain close to the game while balancing his life away from the NFL.
After years of being the player taking the snaps, Carr now gets an opportunity to help develop the players who will take them.
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