Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common clinical degenerative disease of the musculoskeletal system. About 70% to 85% of people will experience low back pain at least once in their lifetime, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. The family brings a heavy financial burden. Currently, the specific pathogenesis of IDD is not fully understood. Nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an important transcription factor that regulates the oxidative stress response of cells, and it is also a central regulator that maintains cell homeostasis. Studies have shown that Nrf2 can inhibit oxidative stress, inhibit inflammation, improve mitochondrial function, etc., and Nrf2 is regulated by noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) to alleviate the progress of IDD. This article reviews the structure of Nrf2 and its role in IDD, hoping to provide a reference for follow-up related research.