Pete Carroll the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks for 14 seasons, has officially parted ways with the team.
Pete Carroll is stepping down as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks after serving for 14 seasons. During his tenure, he led the team to two NFC championships and secured the franchise’s only Super Bowl title.
The 72-year-old coach is transitioning into an advisory role within the organization, the team’s owner, Jody Allen, mentioned in a statement on Wednesday that the choice to part ways with Coach Carroll was made “after thoughtful meetings and careful consideration for the best interest of the franchise.” Despite the Seahawks finishing 9-8 and missing the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, Carroll will remain with the team in a yet-to-be-specified advisory role.
In a farewell news conference on Wednesday, Coach Carroll stated that he and the team’s owners decided together to take a new direction. Despite his strong desire to continue coaching the Seahawks and his efforts to do so, he ultimately followed the owners’ intentions. Carroll emphasized that his earlier statements expressing his wish to keep coaching the team after the season finale were genuine and heartfelt.
“I want to ensure everyone understands, things shifted quickly for many people,” Carroll shared. “Being part of this team has been an honor and a fantastic experience, and I’ve cherished every moment. You’ve witnessed my genuine love for it.”
The Seahawks are considering options for their next coach, and among them is Dan Quinn, the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, as per sources from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Quinn has history with the Seahawks, previously working with them and contributing to their Super Bowl win in 2014. Now, the team is looking at the possibility of bringing him back.
Pete has been the most successful coach
“Pete has been the most successful coach in Seahawks history, bringing the city its first Super Bowl win and making a big impact over the past 14 years on and off the field,” Allen mentioned. “His leadership skills and ability to build a winning culture will still be important for our team.”
After the Seahawks won against the Arizona Cardinals but missed the playoffs, Carroll said he wants to keep coaching the team in 2024, and he repeated this on his radio show the next day.
“I’m planning to keep coaching this team,” Carroll shared on Seattle Sports 710 AM. “I’ve mentioned before how much I love these guys, and I want to continue coaching to see how far we can go. I’m not tired or worn out. I just need to do a better job and support my coaches more. We have areas where we can improve our coaching.”
The Seahawks had a good start with a 5-2 record, briefly leading their division. But a tough second half of the season ended their playoff hopes, with a notable Thanksgiving loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Despite these challenges, Carroll remains determined to improve and continue coaching.
The Seahawks faced a tough defeat, losing 37-3 to the Baltimore Ravens in November, marking one of their most significant losses under Carroll.
Over the last 14 seasons, the Seahawks have had a solid regular-season record, winning about 60% of their games, ranking sixth-best in the NFL. They made it to the playoffs 10 times and secured five NFC West titles. However, their playoff journey hasn’t gone beyond the divisional round since the 2014 season, and their record since 2021 is 25-26, with their only playoff appearance in that period ending in a wild-card loss.
“We lost our edge, really,” Carroll admitted, referring to their strength in running the football and playing defense. “It wasn’t as good as it needed to be. You all get tired of me, thinking I’m three yards and a cloud of dust. You guys don’t get it, and I’m sorry about that. But it’s all part of the whole cycle of what you do when you put a football team together, and we weren’t as clear in the last couple of years.”
Carroll’s press conference had a celebratory atmosphere, with music playing as he spoke at Seahawks headquarters. The room was filled with team employees, including players like Bobby Wagner and Geno Smith. Carroll, the only speaker, didn’t delve into details about what led to Allen’s decision after their end-of-season meetings.
Pete Carroll, who served as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks since 2010, has decided to step down at the age of 72. Notably, he holds the record for the most wins as a coach in Seahawks history, boasting a record of 137-89-1 with 10 playoff victories. Carroll signed a contract extension in 2020, committing to stay with the team until the 2025 season. Under his leadership, the Seahawks experienced their most successful period, making 10 playoff appearances since 2010.
Before joining the Seahawks, Carroll had coaching roles with the New York Jets and New England Patriots. He also enjoyed a highly successful stint with the University of Southern California (USC) before taking over the Seahawks in 2010. During the 2000 season, Carroll took a break from coaching and revamped his coaching philosophy.
The Seahawks secured a significant victory by winning Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos. However, their attempt to repeat as champions in the following year ended in a heartbreakingly close loss to the New England Patriots. Carroll became emotional during a news conference, particularly when expressing the importance of his wife, Glena. He shared that his cherished memory from the past 14 years was celebrating the Super Bowl victory with her in the crowd.
Despite being the NFL’s oldest head coach for an extended period, Carroll showed no signs of retirement until now. His departure marks the end of a remarkable era for the Seahawks, leaving behind a legacy of success on the field and memorable moments for the coach.