The Pittsburgh Steelers have made it crystal clear that they're open to reuniting with quarterback Aaron Rodgers for his age-43 campaign. However, the club is ostensibly at least receptive to the idea of pivoting, which makes the latest intel on Derek Carr particularly notable.
Carr retired last offseason due to a throwing shoulder injury, and his contractual rights still belong to the New Orleans Saints. Nevertheless, the veteran signal-caller is reportedly keen on making a comeback, presenting the Steelers with a Plan B to Rodgers, albeit an uninspiring one.
Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, "there's a strong belief" that Carr is "very serious" about returning after sitting out the 2025 campaign. Teams "with winning aspirations" are said to have "real interest," which almost sounds like code for the Steelers.
Derek Carr presents the Pittsburgh Steelers with underwhelming potential Aaron Rodgers backup plan
Steelers owner Art Rooney II was straightforward following longtime head coach Mike Tomlin's departure: "The standard is to try to compete to win a championship every year." So, like it or not, there's a universe where Carr fits into the picture in Pittsburgh if Rodgers doesn't.
It's worth mentioning that Carr stated he'd put the cleats back on if healthy and given a "chance to win a Super Bowl." Not only are the Steelers arguably the closest QB-needy squad to contention, but the four-time Pro Bowler's comments align with Rooney's vision of competing annually. Rodgers was the latest example that Pittsburgh wants to squeeze whatever it can out of an aging core.
Turning 35 on March 28, Carr has been planting the seeds for getting back in the saddle following his one-year hiatus for months. He didn't shut down the idea in September. Then, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport revealed the Cincinnati Bengals "checked in" on his status before trading for Joe Flacco in October.
Fast forward to February, Rapoport shared that "the right situation and coaching staff could lure Carr back onto the field." Who knows if the Mike McCarthy-led Steelers fit that bill. Nevertheless, Pittsburgh ostensibly doesn't want to sit around and wait for Rodgers (again) and suddenly has another potential option in the Rolodex.
When we last saw Carr in 2024, he completed 67.7 percent of his passes for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions across 10 games.