The Las Vegas Raiders are currently in discussions to bring Pete Carroll on board as their new head coach, according to a knowledgeable source. This person requested anonymity as the contract is still in the final stages of negotiation.
At 73, Carroll steps back into a head coaching role after an impressive tenure in Seattle where he led the team to two NFC championships and secured the franchise’s only Super Bowl title over 14 seasons, culminating in 2023. Now, he is set to join a Raiders team that has partial ownership from Tom Brady, who famously defeated Carroll and the Seahawks in the Super Bowl a decade ago. During that championship game, Brady witnessed the iconic interception by Malcolm Butler, which sealed a win for the New England Patriots.
Brady is rumored to be playing a significant role in the hiring processes for both the head coach and the general manager positions. Recently, the Raiders announced John Spytek, a former assistant GM with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as their new general manager, although the team has not yet confirmed this appointment. Brady, who wrapped up his career with the Buccaneers and is a seven-time Super Bowl champion, has a vested interest in reshaping the franchise.
The Raiders made the decision to part ways with coach Antonio Pierce after a challenging 4-13 season, following a promising interim record of 5-4 during 2023 when he replaced Josh McDaniels. Carroll will now take the reins as the 14th head coach since Jon Gruden’s exit to Tampa Bay in 2002 and becomes the fifth head coach, counting interim leaders, since the team’s relocation to Las Vegas in 2020.
Once an esteemed organization flaunting three Super Bowl trophies and the motto “Commitment to Excellence,” the Raiders have struggled to achieve playoff success in recent years, appearing in only two postseason games since their championship run in the 2002 season. In those appearances, they were eliminated in the wild-card round.
Carroll faces the tough task of rejuvenating a franchise in a fiercely competitive AFC West division, boasting experienced coaches and quarterbacks likely to remain dominant for the foreseeable future. For the first time, all head coaches in this division will have Super Bowl experience when the season commences.
A significant challenge for Carroll will involve the quarterback situation, especially with formidable players like Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, Justin Herbert of the Chargers, and Bo Nix of the Broncos in the mix. Mahomes is aiming for his fourth Super Bowl title and third consecutive crown, while Herbert is emerging as a prospective elite quarterback, and Nix just had a commendable rookie season.
The Raiders are positioned to select sixth overall in the upcoming draft, though chances to secure one of the top two quarterback prospects—Shedeur Sanders from Colorado and Cam Ward from Miami—appear slim unless they trade up. The free-agent quarterback market doesn’t seem particularly promising, which could result in Aidan O’Connell retaining his starter role.
Should the Raiders not make a significant investment at quarterback, they possess nearly $100 million in salary-cap space to enhance other areas of their roster, as reported by Over The Cap.
Carroll began his NFL head coaching career in 1994 with the New York Jets, where he posted a record of 6-10. He then went on to coach the New England Patriots from 1997 to 1999, achieving a 27-21 record over three seasons before joining the Seattle Seahawks in 2010. Prior to his NFL career, he also enjoyed success in college football at Southern California, leading the Trojans to a national championship in 2004 and winning the AP national title in 2003.
In total, Carroll’s NFL coaching record stands at 170 wins, 120 losses, and 1 tie. Upon joining the Raiders, he will become one of only three coaches since 1940 to guide at least four teams, alongside Bill Parcells and Marty Schottenheimer.
