With a 170-120-1 regular-season record, Pete Carroll starts his head-coaching journey 30 years ago with the New York Jets, but lasted only one season with the team. He then moved to New England for three seasons (1997-99) and eventually landed at USC, where he built the school into a football power. In 2010, Carroll returned to the pros, taking over in Seattle for 14 seasons, including a Super Bowl XLVIII victory.
Carroll’s time in Seattle saw him build a monster, led by the “Legion of Boom” defense, and maintained a competitive club throughout his tenure, with the team missing the playoffs only four times. 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 “Always Compete” mantra of Carroll will be taken on by the Las Vegas Raiders, particularly with new minority owner Tom Brady helping guide the team. With Carroll set to turn 74 years old on September 15, he is now the oldest head coach in NFL history, surpassing Romeo Crennel’s record. The AFC West is now home to experienced coaches, including Andy Reid, Sean Payton, and Jim Harbaugh, with Carroll joining the group.
Carroll takes over a Raiders team that has not won a division title or a postseason game since 2002, with just two playoff berths over the span while going through 11 full-time head coaches. The team is now faced with significant roster concerns that Carroll and new general manager John Spytek must address, including building his staff, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, and finding a quarterback. The team holds the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and there is a possibility that his former Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who still maintains a relationship with Carroll, may be available.