What Las Vegas Raiders hiring of Pete Carroll means

Super Bowl-winning head coach Pete Carroll returns to the NFL after a year’s break.

According to several media reports, Carroll has agreed to become the next head coach of the oppressed Las Vegas Raiders. Espns Adam SchafterNotes that it is a three -year deal that includes a fourth -year team option.

Carroll, 73, has long been considered a top-end candidate for the opening of southern Nevada. When Ben Johnson surprisingly rejected Las Vegas to take the Chicago Bears head coach job, the writing seemed to be on the wall here.

This happens shortly after Raiders filled their General Manager opening by hiring John Spytek away from Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Carroll has been a football liver. His first job in the NFL came as a defensive back coach for Buffalo Bills back in 1984. In addition to a nine-year race with USC Trojans, it has been about the NFL for Carroll. He will continue that in his age-74 season.

For Raiders, this step comes after an absolutely catastrophic campaign in 2024, when they went 4-13. Owner Mark Davis and Co. chose to keep Antonio Pierce full time after replacing former head coach Josh McDaniels during the 2023 season. He turned out to be in over his head in that role. Pierce ended up joining General Manager Tom Telesco in going one-and-ready for Raiders.

This is a franchise-changing employment for Raiders, one that will be felt throughout the AFC West in the future. I look at the details of the hiring, who Carroll could pick up to complete his coaching team and what it means to move on.

Pete Carroll Hiring gives The Las Vegas Raiders Credibility

When the seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady was approved to be a minority owner of Raiders last year, we had no idea what role he would play. It was answered shortly after.

Davis set Brady to look for a new head coach and general manager. It was a surprise to some. But Brady’s presence as a great figure in Raiders’ organization gave them more credibility than at any time since the Hall of Fame owner’s death back in 2011.

With Brady at the forefront of the attack on landing a future Hall of Famer in Carroll, the perception of Raiders’ organization is changing clearly.

ForbesLas Vegas Raiders on Forbes NFL Team Valuation’s List

Carroll trained Seahawks from 2010-23. He led them to 10 playoffs, two trips to the Super Bowl and a Lombardi Trophy. For the context, Raiders has not seen this kind of sustained success since Tom Flores staffed the sidelines for Silver and Black back in the early 1980s.

Even before his stay in Pacific Northwest, Carroll was widely respected in NFL circles. He served as head coach of the New York Jets and New England Patriots earlier in his career.

Las Vegas goes from promoting a position as coach without coordinating experience to hiring one of the most experienced coaches in the NFL today. Let it sink in for a moment.

Potential Pete Carroll employees with Las Vegas Raiders

The added advantage of hiring someone with Carroll’s experience is that he has built relationships with hundreds of coaches over the years. Many would like to go with him to Las Vegas. In reality, the Raiders should have their choice of litter when it comes to a staff.

Shane Waldron comes to mind as a potential offensive coordinator candidate. He served in that role for Carroll in Seattle from 2021-23. Waldron was Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator in the past season.

Another option to staff the attack for the defensive carroll could be Darrell Bæd. He worked in that role under Carroll in Seattle from 2011-17, led four top-10 scores.

We also can’t ignore Bobby Slowik. He was shockingly fired by Houston Texans Friday after serving as offensive coordinator under Demeco Ryans in the past two seasons. Slowik was considered a top coach candidate in last year’s cycle. Before that, he was coordinator of the San Francisco Co -Fan. Carroll could end up running Kyle Shanahan’s attack in Sin City. Slowik would do just that.

Defensively, it is a bit less important with Carroll that probably calls shots. But building a foundation with someone he knows would make sense.

Gus Bradley is the obvious name that will emerge. He worked under Pete Carroll as Seattle Seahawks’ defensive coordinator from 2010-12. Bradley has a wealth of experience. It includes a recent three-year run in Indianapolis. Interestingly, he was the Raiders’ defensive coordinator back in 2021.

Other options for staffing this position include Washington Commanders Linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. and Jacksonville Jaguar’s defense back coach Kris Richard.

Work begins seriously for Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders

Davis, Brady and Co. have done their things to hire two important staff positions. But it doesn’t turn into anything unless Raiders improves a defective list.

This is especially true within the framework of an AFC West, where the other three teams reached the end game.

It starts at the quarterback position. You don’t have to be a genius to realize that this has been one of the biggest problems for Vegas over the years. Since the team’s ugly divorce with Derek Carr back in 2022, it has been a swing door of exceribility under the center of Raiders.

Aidan O’Connell, Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer, Gardner Minshew and Desmond Knight have started matches under the center. The end result? A total of 39 touchdown passes compared to 34 interceptions in 34 games.

Las Vegas is set to have the sixth election in 2025 NFL draft. They have been connected with the Colorado star’s quarterback shedur Sanders. Miamis Cam Ward is another option for Raiders here.

Certainly, Carroll and Co. will also look to pick up a veteran. In what would be an interesting fate, Russell Wilson is set to hit free play. He played with Carroll in Pacific Northwest from 2012-21 before falling into disrepute.

It’s not just about the quarterback position. These raiders need to be improved throughout the line.

There is good news on that front. Pete Carroll and Las Vegas Raiders are expected by Spotrac to have nearly $ 96 million in ceiling. Now is the time for Carroll to smack the sleeves, eat it chewing gum and make Raiders amazing again.