Derek Carr's comments indirectly rule Jets out as comeback option

Speculation around a potential Derek Carr comeback has picked up steam in recent days, and it didn’t take long for the New York Jets to be floated as a possible landing spot. After all, it makes plenty of sense.

The Jets are once again searching for quarterback answers this offseason, and Carr would represent a familiar veteran option capable of stabilizing the position in the short term. At least, that would be the hope. It's unclear how much Carr has left in the tank after walking away from the sport a year ago.

The hopes of a Carr-Jets pairing took a hit, however, after Carr publicly clarified the circumstances under which he’d even consider returning to the NFL. While the former Pro Bowler didn’t mention the Jets by name, the criteria he laid out don’t exactly align with where the franchise currently stands.

Carr addressed the growing internet rumors surrounding his potential return during a recent episode of his Home Grown with David & Derek Carr podcast. The 34-year-old made it clear that any comeback would hinge on two non-negotiables.

"Would I do it? Yes. Would I do it for anybody? Absolutely not. 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."

Derek Carr

Not only does Carr have to feel healthy enough, but he would also be looking to join a team with a legitimate Super Bowl window. That certainly suggests the Jets would not be a serious option for him.

The Jets may have to resort to other QB options after Derek Carr's comments

The Jets were never the most obvious fit for Carr to begin with, but there were reasons his name kept surfacing. The team is once again in the quarterback market, and Carr’s experience made him an intriguing bridge option in theory. Some even went as far as labeling the Jets a top landing spot should he decide to unretire.

But his comments seem to rule out that possibility. The Jets are fresh off a three-win season in Aaron Glenn's debut campaign, and most believe the team is more likely to compete for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft than an actual playoff spot — let alone the Super Bowl — next season.

Of course, it's hard to imagine a legitimate Super Bowl contender would view Carr as an actual starting-caliber option at this stage. He may not have many options, even in this scarce quarterback market.

That said, Carr also has the leverage of simply not unretiring at all if he doesn’t believe the physical and mental toll of a comeback is worth it. And even if the Jets believe they’re closer than the outside world thinks, Carr’s bar appears to be much higher than potential or optimism.

In that sense, Carr didn’t explicitly rule the Jets out, but he didn’t leave much room for them, either. His comments serve as a reminder of where the franchise currently sits in the league’s hierarchy and why veteran quarterbacks with options will continue to look elsewhere first.

Whether Carr has those options remains to be seen, but until the Jets are seen as a true contender rather than a long-term project, situations like this are likely to keep repeating themselves.