Raiders hire former Seahawks HC Pete Carroll as next head coach

On By Littum

With a career 170-120-1 regular-season record, Carroll began his pitching journey 30 years ago with the New York Jets. He lasted one season with Gang Green before being traded. Carroll took over in New England for three seasons (1997-1999) before moving to the college ranks, where he turned USC into a power. In 2010, Carroll returned to the pros and took over in Seattle, where he led the Seahawks for 14 seasons, which included a Super Bowl XLVIII victory.

Carroll helped build a monster in Seattle, led by the famed “Legion of Boom” defense, and maintained a competitive club throughout his tenure. The Seahawks missed the playoffs just four times during Carroll’s tenure.

After 14 seasons, Seattle decided to move on from Carroll, who took on an advisory role with the club but never lost the coaching itch.

The head coach’s “always compete” mantra will be embraced in Vegas, especially with new minority owner Tom Brady helping to guide the ship. Vegas now goes from a coach who took over with no experience to the oldest manager in the league.

The AFC West is now loaded with experience — from Andy Reid to Sean Payton to Jim Harbaugh and now Carroll. Three have won at least one Super Bowl, and Harbaugh has taken a team to the biggest game. Carroll following Harbaugh to the AFC West after their battles in college (USC and Stanford) and in the NFC West (Seattle and San Francisco) sets up a second round for the veteran coaches.

Carroll joins a Raiders club that hasn’t won a division title or a postseason game since 2002. Vegas has just two playoff berths over that span while churning through 11 full-time head coaches. After years of struggling, Carroll’s leadership and experience should increase play in the desert. However, there is significant guard talk that he and new general manager John Spyytek will tackle.

The first question is how Carroll will build his staff, especially on the offensive side of the ball. After that, the more significant issue is finding a quarterback. Vegas has the no. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. And hey, his former Seahawks QB is set to be available (even if things didn’t end well in Seattle).