Steve Kerr was close to retiring after a disappointing season but ultimately decided to return as head coach of the Warriors for the 2026-27 season. His contract was set to expire after the team's play-in elimination.
Key points
Steve Kerr considered retirement after a disappointing season
He is returning for the 2026-27 season
Kerr's contract was expiring after the Warriors' play-in elimination
Speculation about his future was ongoing for nearly a year
Steve Kerr is back in Warriors colors for the 2026-27 season. That didn't seem all that possible a few weeks ago.
Kerr, 60, was rumored to be nearing retirement after a disappointing end to the season. He had flirted with the proposition of stepping away for the better part of a year, only to keep his place at the head of Golden State's coaching staff. With his contract expiring upon the Warriors' play-in elimination, the four-time NBA champion had a natural leaping point to disappear into the sunset. Instead, he locked himself into the Bay Area for a little time longer.
A recent ESPN report indicates that speculation over Kerr's prospects wasn't fanciful. He really did consider retirement up until the moment put his name on the dotted line. Here's the latest on how close Kerr was to stepping away from the Warriors.
Kerr was reportedly dead-set on retiring. He told ESPN's Wright Thompson as much, admitting during an interview at a restaurant in the Beverly Wilshire.
Q&A
Why did Steve Kerr consider retiring from coaching the Warriors?
Steve Kerr considered retirement due to a disappointing end to the season and ongoing speculation about his future.
What season is Steve Kerr returning to coach the Warriors?
Steve Kerr is returning to coach the Warriors for the 2026-27 season.
How long has Steve Kerr been the head coach of the Warriors?
Steve Kerr has been the head coach of the Warriors since 2014, making this his ninth season.
What were the circumstances surrounding Kerr's contract expiration?
Kerr's contract was set to expire following the Warriors' elimination in the play-in tournament, which contributed to speculation about his retirement.
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"I think it's over," Kerr said, draped in a sweatsuit as suits and ties swirled around him. Thompson reported that Kerr, an avid sports historian, has taken a keen interest to sports' legends' swan songs over the years. He wanted to avoid the ends of some of his idols like his former coaches Lute Olson and Gregg Popovich and former teammate Michael Jordan.
Kerr had hoped to find something during the 2025-26 season, even if it wasn't tangible. Golden State entered the year with a deeply-flawed roster, spearheaded by Stephen Curry but always teetering on collapse if an injury crisis opened up.
That crisis was unavoidable in the end. Curry played in just 43 games, his lowest tally since the 2019-20 season. The Warriors limped to a 37-45 record in the regular season before falling to the Clippers and Suns in the play-in tournament, bringing their year to a close.
"I think things have run out here," Kerr texted following an emotional mid-season loss to the Raptors. "It's just time to move on. For me and for them. I'm probably being too emotional after yet another close loss, but it's probably true. ... We will commiserate and drink beer and watch the game on our computers and complain about all the dumb plays we made."
Kerr settled on retirement during the season, telling Thompson he was looking forward to seeing what lied next once he would escape basketball's bubble.
"It's a little scary walking away from something I love," he said.
Kerr discussed his plans with his family, as well as Curry, Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. Lacob and Dunleavy wanted Kerr back. Kerr was convinced, relishing the opportunity to retool the team -- and organization -- he loved so dearly.
"I'm just like Riley," Kerr said, referencing former Lakers, Knicks and Heat boss Pat Riley, who spurned the front office in favor of the sideline. "I'm not a suit. I want a whistle."
Kerr signed a two-year extension to stay in the Bay Area. The specific terms of the deal have not yet been made public. But he'll remain the highest-paid coach in the league, per ESPN.
Kerr made $17.5 million in 2026, more than any other play-caller. He very well could see an increase on that figure in 2026-27.
Here's a look at how Kerr's last contract compares to other coaches' deals.
