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Former NFL quarterback Derek Carr has found his first post-retirement football role: UCLA.
The Bruins have hired Carr as a special advisor to coach Bob Chesney, UCLA announced Monday, Aug. 10. In his position, he will assist the coaching staff in “game-planning strategy while also working with UCLA’s quarterbacks.”
Carr joins UCLA after retiring from the NFL in May 2025, spending 11 seasons with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints. In his nine seasons with the Raiders, he became the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions.
Before playing professionally, Carr played college football at Fresno State. With the Bulldogs, he was a two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, including a national-leading 5,083 passing yards and 50 touchdowns his senior year in 2013, finishing his college career with 12,842 passing yards and 113 touchdowns before he was a second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
“We are excited to welcome Derek to our program,” Chesney said in a statement. “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.”
Carr will be reunited with UCLA general manager Darrick Yray, who was an offensive assistant and assistant director of football at Fresno State from 2008-14, when Carr was with the Bulldogs.
“I’ve known Darrick for a long time and have great respect for the work he’s done throughout his career,” Carr said. “The opportunity to help Coach Chesney, the staff and the quarterbacks at UCLA was one that really excited me. I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences and helping support the program in any way I can.”
This will be Carr’s first official role since he retired, citing effects from a right shoulder injury. In February, there were rumors he was mulling a return to football, saying on his “Home Grown” podcast he would do it, but it would come down to his health and an interested team’s Super Bowl contention. He added he “had to say no a couple of times so far” to prospective teams.
Carr is still under contract with the Saints for one more season after signing his four-year, $150 million contract with New Orleans in 2023.
UCLA currently has Dean Kennedy as offensive coordinator, who followed Chesney from James Madison to UCLA. Jon Boyer is an assistant quarterbacks coach after spending last season at Michigan State.
Nico Iamaleava is UCLA’s starting quarterback, returning for his second season in Westwood after throwing for 1,928 yards and 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions in 11 games last season. He also led the Bruins in rushing yards (505), carries (112) and rushing touchdowns (4).