The Pittsburgh Steelers could have a different veteran quarterback next season.
There is still a strong belief that the Pittsburgh Steelers will run it back with quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2026. However, if that falls through, some believe they could lure another veteran quarterback out of retirement.
Bookies.com has named the Steelers the favorites to land veteran quarterback Derek Carr if he decides to come out of retirement, giving them an 18.2 percent chance to do so.
"The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a new head coach for the first time in 19 years after Mike Tomlin left the team following another failed playoff run. New head coach Mike McCarthy is expected to try to lure QB Aaron Rodgers back for another season, but considering he is 42 years old, there is no guarantee that Rodgers will play again," Adam Martin wrote . "If he walks away, then the Steelers will be in the market for a new QB, and Carr would be a great fit with the team. The Steelers are always in playoff contention, so Carr would have the opportunity to make a postseason run with them."
Carr, 34, announced his retirement from the New Orleans Saints last spring due to a labral tear in his rotator cuff. He opted not to have surgery but would've missed the entire 2025 season if he got the surgery, anyway.
However, Carr recently admitted he's open to coming out of retirement, but it would have to be for the right opportunity.
"Would I do it? Yes. Would I do it for anybody? Absolutely not," Carr said on the Home Grown with David & Derek Carr podcast. "Would I do it. Absolutely, I would. I told you two things: I have to be healthy, and I'd want a chance to win a Super Bowl. And obviously, that's a tough thing to find. That's hard to do. That's not easy."
It's unclear what kind of player Carr would be in a potential return to football. He threw for just 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 games before his 2024 season was ended due to injuries.
The four-time Pro Bowler could prove to be an intriguing addition for a quarterback-needy team like the Steelers, though.
A second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Raiders, Carr has thrown for 41,245 yards, 257 touchdowns and 112 interceptions in his professional career.
November 8 2015: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) drops back to pass during the first half in the game between the Oakland Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Photo by Justin Berl/Icon Sportswire)
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Named Favorites to Lure Quarterback Out of Retirement
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