Derek Carr spent 11 seasons in the NFL with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints before retiring prior to the 2025 season.
Although reports surfaced about Carr potentially attempting an NFL comeback, that might be put to rest for now. On Monday, the UCLA football program announced that Carr is joining as a special advisor to head coach Bob Chesney.
BREAKING: Former NFL quarterback Derek Carr has been hired as a special advisor to UCLA head coach Bob Chesney
— Connor Morrissette (@C_Morrissette) August 10, 2026
Chesney, who was hired by UCLA in December after he had success at James Madison, released a statement on the move.
“We are excited to welcome Derek to our program,” Chesney said in the official release. “He has played the quarterback position at a high level for more than a decade, and his experience, leadership and football knowledge will be an incredible resource for our coaching staff and student-athletes. What stands out most is his passion for the game and his commitment to developing young people. Derek will have a tremendous impact on our players and is a great addition to our program.”
There is one key tie there as well. UCLA GM Darrick Yray was an offensive assistant and assistant director of football operations from 2008-14 at Fresno State. Carr became a star at Fresno State as he played there from 2009 through 2013 before going to the NFL.
In February, reports stated that Derek Carr was “very serious” about an NFL comeback. In July, Carr said he would “never say never,” but he also added that it would take a “special situation” to get him to return to the league.
Now, Carr begins his college coaching career at UCLA.
