Justin Verlander may have announced that 2026 will be the final season of his legendary career, but don’t mistake that for a goodbye.

The future Hall of Famer made it clear Wednesday that he has every intention of pitching again before calling it a career. More than anything, Verlander wants one last opportunity to take the mound at Comerica Park in a Detroit Tigers uniform after injuries robbed fans of that moment twice already this season.

For Verlander, this final chapter is about more than adding another start to his résumé. It’s about finishing what he started.

Verlander Isn’t Ready to Say Goodbye

Although Verlander recently revealed that this will be his final Major League season, retirement is still months away.

The veteran right-hander admitted that his body has made continuing his career increasingly difficult, but he isn’t ready to walk away just yet.

“I’ve always said I want to play until the wheels are falling off. I joked not long ago that maybe this is falling off, it seems it is,” Verlander said via 97.1 The Ticket. “But it’s not done yet, and neither am I.”

That determination has defined Verlander’s career for more than two decades, and it continues to drive him through another lengthy rehabilitation process.

His Mission in Detroit Hasn’t Changed

When Verlander signed with the Tigers before the 2026 season, he envisioned helping a young club reach the postseason while enjoying one final run with the organization that drafted him.

Despite the setbacks, that goal remains intact.

“I returned to the Tigers for my 21st big league season with the intention of being part of a great run, a playoff caliber team, and hopefully doing something special,” Verlander said. “That really hasn’t changed. It’s just become harder.”

Detroit appears to be making that vision more realistic.

The Tigers have caught fire since the beginning of June, posting the best record in the American League during that stretch while pairing it with one of baseball’s most dominant pitching staffs.

Verlander believes that formula is familiar.

“The best teams I’ve been a part of, and I’ve been part of a lot of them, that’s really the foundation,” Verlander said. “You have a rotation of guys that are giving you a chance to win night in and night out, and your guys behind you feel like they’re in every single game and you start riding the momentum, and that’s what I’m seeing happening now.”

He Feels Like He Let Detroit Down

Perhaps the most emotional part of Verlander’s media session came when discussing the two homecomings that never happened.

His anticipated return to Comerica Park was postponed after landing on the injured list with hip inflammation before his scheduled season debut. Weeks later, another planned return was canceled after he suffered a hamstring strain.

Thousands of Tigers fans purchased tickets hoping to see one of the greatest players in franchise history take the mound again.

Instead, they went home disappointed.

That has stayed with Verlander.

“It really is a big part of it. I feel like I’ve pulled the rug out, twice, and it really gutted me,” Verlander admitted. “I hated doing that. It’s something that I’ve envisioned from the moment I signed back here, is being back on the mound in a Tigers uniform. I want it just as bad as anyone else. It’s definitely part of the motivation to continue to put in the necessary work. Maybe there’s a world where that’s more motivating, to know that it’s all or nothing.”

It was one of the most personal moments of his retirement announcement, revealing just how much returning to Detroit has meant to him.

He Fully Expects to Pitch Again

Despite months of frustration, Verlander remains confident he will pitch before the season ends.

“For sure, I really do,” he said. “Ironically, I’m starting to feel the best I have all year right now.”

He added that he is scheduled to throw another bullpen session as he continues working toward returning to the Tigers’ rotation.

If everything goes according to plan, Verlander hopes to contribute during what Detroit believes can become a meaningful second-half playoff push.

One Last Chance to Finish the Story

Verlander insists he is not interested in simply watching from the dugout during his final months in professional baseball.

He wants to compete.

He wants to help.

And perhaps most importantly, he wants one final opportunity to hear Comerica Park erupt as he walks to the mound wearing the Old English D one last time.

“That is something I’m absolutely looking forward to,” Verlander said. “This isn’t me just saying goodbye and sitting on the bench the rest of the year. That’s not who I am, that’s not how I got to where I am. Watching these guys go out there and have fun, and watching our staff just absolutely dominate, I want to be part of that.”

The Bottom Line

Justin Verlander’s Hall of Fame legacy has already been written.

Three Cy Young Awards. An MVP. More than 260 career victories. Thousands of strikeouts. A place among the greatest pitchers in baseball history.

But before he walks away from the game, there is one final goal that means just as much to him.

After two heartbreaking setbacks, Verlander wants to give Tigers fans the farewell they have waited years to see.

And judging by his determination, he is going to do everything possible to make sure that moment finally happens.