A big NFL name lands in Westwood
UCLA has brought former NFL quarterback Derek Carr onto its staff as a special adviser to head coach Bob Chesney. The school announced the hire Monday. Carr will help the Bruins’ offensive staff with game-planning and work directly with the quarterbacks.
The four-time Pro Bowler steps inside a college building as a coach for the first time, but the ties run deep. Bruins general manager Darrick Yray worked as an offensive assistant at Fresno State during Carr’s playing days with the Bulldogs.
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From Fresno State to the Raiders and back to campus
Carr, 35, grew up in California and starred at hometown Fresno State before Oakland took him in the second round of the 2014 draft. He spent 11 seasons in the league, nine with the Raiders from 2014 to 2022 and two with the New Orleans Saints in 2023 and 2024, then retired before the 2025 campaign.
The résumé carries weight in a quarterback room. Carr threw for 41,245 yards and 257 touchdowns against 112 interceptions across 169 games, numbers that give his advice some teeth.
What it means for the Bruins
“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,” Chesney said. Carr, for his part, called the chance to help the staff and the quarterbacks one that “really excited me.”
The clock is ticking. UCLA opens its first season under Chesney on Sept. 5 at California. The coach arrives after going 21-6 across two seasons at James Madison and steering the Dukes to the College Football Playoff in 2025.
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