Pete Carroll might not have been the Raiders’ first choice to be their next head coach, but he had by far the most impressive resume going into this year’s head coaching hiring cycle.
Rarely does a head coach with Carroll’s credentials become available and many fans in Seattle still aren’t happy the Seahawks made the decision to move on from their Super Bowl-winning head coach a little over a year ago.
Not a lot has been reported on the Seahawks’ decision to let Carroll go after the 2023 season, but it sounds like there might have been some philosophical differences between Carroll and GM John Schneider that led to the divorce.
Speaking last week on a Seattle radio show, Carroll talked about the dynamic that led to his departure after 14 seasons with the Seahawks.
“It came to me that there was a time that we probably were about to face one of the bigger changes, shifts, in the time of the program, and I had really been dedicated, as John had been dedicated too, John Schneider, to doing this thing in great fashion together,” Carroll said on Brock & Salk.
“We had done that, I thought, and it was really John’s turn, it was his turn to take over. I had the lead voice and all of that all through that time, and I was really hoping that John could become the general manager of the club and run it. And if we could do that and figure a way to get out of that, we did. John was great about it, and so we just kind of agreed upon it that if we could work it out, I would support the thought. That’s kind of how it happened, so it’s a little bit different than maybe how people perceived it, but John got his chance.”
“There was a lot of big changes that were going to happen and have to come and I thought we might not agree on all of those changes. I was going to hang with some guys maybe more than he would at the time and the changes they made have obviously turned out great. They’ve got a good coach and a good staff and they’re rolling, so more power to them.”
Carroll didn’t mention specifically what he would have done “a little bit different” in Seattle, but it’s fair to wonder if the veteran quarterback Geno Smith might have been one of the guys he wanted to “hang with” a little longer.
Later in the conversation, Carroll essentially acknowledged Smith was the quarterback he wanted from the time he was hired by the Raiders.
”I was trying to get that done from the moment this thing happened. I was hoping we could do something [to get Geno Smith],” Carroll said.
“Geno was a backup for all those years… so there was a lot of times where we had to do stuff together to keep him going and he was keeping me going , but I was keeping him going. What he demonstrated to me [was] this remarkable connection in spirit to be ready knowing that the very next play he may be in the game. He never forgot that. His resolve about that I thought was so exceptional that when he got his turn I was thrilled for him…”
The Raiders made an effort to trade for Matthew Stafford in February, but several reports have indicated they weren’t willing to give more than a third-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams for Stafford – which is exactly what they gave the Seahawks for Smith.
For Carroll and Smith, the wait won’t be long for their homecoming. The Raiders travel to Seattle for their preseason opener on Saturday, August 9.
x: @raidersbeat