What does Derek Carr bring to UCLA football? Coach Bob Chesney explains
Story by
What does Derek Carr bring to UCLA football? Coach Bob Chesney explains
Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY
·
3 min read
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
IRVINE, CA — As Nico Iamaleava and the rest of theUCLAquarterbacks went through drills on Tuesday, Aug. 11, it was hard to miss a former Pro Bowl quarterback among the group:Derek Carr.
The former Raider and Saint was with theBruinsat the Great Park facility for the first time since he was officially hired as a special advisor for coach Bob Chesney. It's the first coaching role for Carr since he announced hisretirement from the NFL in May 2025, and it came to fruition thanks to an old college connection.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
When Carr was at Fresno State, Darrick Yray was an offensive assistant and assistant director of football for the Bulldogs. Now, Yray is the UCLA football general manager, and them staying in touch over the years led to Carr reaching out to Chesney during spring practice.
"He has a place in Newport Beach, right down the road," Chesney told reporters. "(He said) 'I'm going to be around a lot, and I'd love to be able to help out.' I think when Derek Carr asks to help out, the answer is yes."
UCLA said in announcing Carr that his official role is to help with "game-planning strategy while also working with UCLA's quarterbacks." He mostly observed practice during the media viewing period on Tuesday, while speaking with some staff and signal-callers during it.
How much does it cost to go to a Big Ten school? We looked up the numbers for all 18 schools and ranked them on cost of attendance, which includes tuition and room and board, plus more.
(Aaron Doster, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NO. 18 PURDUE. Cost of attendance: $49,380 (in-state, $30,586)
(Craig Strobeck, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)
NO. 17 NEBRASKA. Cost of attendance: $49,908 (in-state, $28,938)
(Kylie Graham, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NO. 16 IOWA. Cost of attendance: $54,121 (in-state, $31,845)
(Jeffrey Becker, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NO. 15 MARYLAND. Cost of attendance: $62,374 (in-state, $32,408)
(Tommy Gilligan, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NO. 14 RUTGERS. Cost of attendance: $62,782 (in-state, $41,332)
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NO. 13 INDIANA. Cost of attendance: $62,956 (in-state, $30,574)
(Robert Goddin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NO. 12 MINNESOTA. Cost of attendance: $63,762 (in-state, $38,226)
(Matt Krohn, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NO. 11 OHIO STATE. Cost of attendance: $64,990 (in-state, $34,142)
(Barbara J. Perenic/The Columbus , USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
NO. 10 WISCONSIN. Cost of attendance: $65,120 (in-state, $31,524)
(Kayla Wolf, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NO. 9 MICHIGAN STATE. Cost of attendance: $65,656 (in-state, $36,962)
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
NO. 8 ILLINOIS. Cost of attendance: $65,722 (in-state, $42,310)
(Ron Johnson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NO. 7 WASHINGTON. Cost of attendance: $67,800 (in-state, $46,746)
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
NO. 6 PENN STATE. Cost of attendance: $70,636 (in-state, $46,440)
(Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NO. 5 OREGON. Cost of attendance: $71,256 (in-state, $40,236)
(Troy Wayrynen, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NO. 4 UCLA. Cost of attendance: $84,770 (in-state, $45,500)
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NO. 3 MICHIGAN. Cost of attendance: $88,646 (in-state, $40,850)
(Rick Osentoski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NO. 2 NORTHWESTERN. Cost of attendance: $99,375 (private)
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NO. 1 SOUTHERN CAL. Cost of attendance: $103,162 (private)
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
How much does it cost to go to a Big Ten school? We looked up the numbers for all 18 schools and ranked them on cost of attendance, which includes tuition and room and board, plus more.
(Aaron Doster, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
How much does it cost to go to a Big Ten school? We looked up the numbers for all 18 schools and ranked them on cost of attendance, which includes tuition and room and board, plus more.
(Aaron Doster, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
2/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 18 PURDUE. Cost of attendance: $49,380 (in-state, $30,586)
(Craig Strobeck, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)
3/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 17 NEBRASKA. Cost of attendance: $49,908 (in-state, $28,938)
(Kylie Graham, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
4/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 16 IOWA. Cost of attendance: $54,121 (in-state, $31,845)
(Jeffrey Becker, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
5/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 15 MARYLAND. Cost of attendance: $62,374 (in-state, $32,408)
(Tommy Gilligan, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
6/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 14 RUTGERS. Cost of attendance: $62,782 (in-state, $41,332)
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
7/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 13 INDIANA. Cost of attendance: $62,956 (in-state, $30,574)
(Robert Goddin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
8/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 12 MINNESOTA. Cost of attendance: $63,762 (in-state, $38,226)
(Matt Krohn, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
9/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 11 OHIO STATE. Cost of attendance: $64,990 (in-state, $34,142)
(Barbara J. Perenic/The Columbus , USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
10/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 10 WISCONSIN. Cost of attendance: $65,120 (in-state, $31,524)
(Kayla Wolf, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
11/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 9 MICHIGAN STATE. Cost of attendance: $65,656 (in-state, $36,962)
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
12/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 8 ILLINOIS. Cost of attendance: $65,722 (in-state, $42,310)
(Ron Johnson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
13/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 7 WASHINGTON. Cost of attendance: $67,800 (in-state, $46,746)
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
14/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 6 PENN STATE. Cost of attendance: $70,636 (in-state, $46,440)
(Matthew O'Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
15/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 5 OREGON. Cost of attendance: $71,256 (in-state, $40,236)
(Troy Wayrynen, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
16/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 4 UCLA. Cost of attendance: $84,770 (in-state, $45,500)
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
17/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 3 MICHIGAN. Cost of attendance: $88,646 (in-state, $40,850)
(Rick Osentoski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
18/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 2 NORTHWESTERN. Cost of attendance: $99,375 (private)
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
19/19
Ranking all 18 Big Ten schools based on tuition, how much it costs to attend
NO. 1 SOUTHERN CAL. Cost of attendance: $103,162 (private)
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Chesney elaborated Carr won't be a permanent fixture at UCLA practices, noting he has to juggle time with his family and young children, with his proximity to UCLA making it easier for him to attend. However, Carr will be on the sidelines at games and has access to film. Chesney cited Carr's experience during his prolific career at Fresno State and 11 seasons in the NFL as to why it's so valuable to have him on the staff.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
"It's this ability to communicate with the quarterback in real time," he said. "The pressure that you feel back there as a quarterback, I think it's pretty awesome to hear a different guy's perspective that's done it a very long time at the highest level. As he speaks, we certainly listen into what he says he sees, or what he thinks the quarterback sees.
"We're going to go through the playbook and talk about where we want his eyes, where we want his feet, everything we want to do within the scheme. But then there's this little piece of a guy that says, 'I know what exactly what this feels like at this moment,' and that's invaluable."
Carr joins UCLA a few months afterrumors circulated he was mulling a return to football. He said on his "Home Grown" podcast in February he would do it, but his health and an interested team's Super Bowl contention are deciding factors. He added he "had to say no a couple of times so far" to prospective teams.
The new UCLA staff member is still under contract with the Saints for one more season after signing his four-year, $150 million contract with New Orleans in 2023.
