Pete Carroll knows how to harness the power of collaboration. In the 2023 season, the seasoned Seattle Seahawks head coach found himself deep in conversation with defensive backs coach Karl Scott. The topic at hand was a defensive coverage, and their dialogue extended from one day into the next. As they gathered in Carroll’s office before a morning staff meeting, the intensity could have been mistaken for confrontation, but really, it was just pure football banter. In the midst of Scott laying out his view, Carroll interrupted with a casual smirk that caught Scott off guard.
“What’s up? Did I say something wrong?” Scott asked.
“No, man. It’s just that face you’re making – it’s just like Kina’s,” Carroll replied, referring to Scott’s five-year-old daughter. That offbeat moment underscored Carroll’s knack for balancing fierce competitiveness with genuine humanity. To Scott, it was a refreshing reminder that even within the high-pressure world of football, Carroll remains unflinchingly himself.
This authenticity is one reason the Las Vegas Raiders tapped Carroll this offseason, making him the oldest head coach in NFL history. Despite changes in mind and body at nearly 74, Carroll’s approach remains true to form. He’s built a legacy of winning, from a national championship at USC to a Super Bowl with the Seahawks, all fueled by his “always compete” mantra. But while he demands excellence, his methods are far from militaristic.
Imagine impromptu H-O-R-S-E games on mini hoops during team meetings, or Carroll dropping “The People’s Elbow” on players during warm-ups. These light-hearted antics blend seamlessly into a laser-focused mission for victory every single time.
Simply put, under Carroll, it’s about competition in everything. Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby summed it up perfectly this spring: “It’s truly a competition for everything we do, but we’re having fun with it. He just wants to see guys be the best versions of themselves.”
This is what makes Carroll an expert communicator. Age doesn’t matter; he connects with everyone. Washington Commanders coach and former Carroll assistant Dan Quinn put it best: “Whether you’re 21 or 71, there is one language that real ones speak — and that’s competitiveness.” For Carroll, competitive spirit is universal.
Former USC player and long-time assistant Ben Malcolmson has seen Carroll embed his ethos into team culture time and again, refusing to let age change that approach. Early in his Seahawks days, Malcolmson would see Carroll buzz around like a kid at recess – fueled by Mountain Dew, he thought. But even after Carroll cut back on sugar and caffeine, the energy never waned. It wasn’t the Dew; it was his relentless drive.
Carroll’s résumé might as well secure him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Yet, when his journey with the Seahawks ended in 2023, retirement was out of the question. The Raiders offered him another chapter, and Carroll was all in.
“It’s about competing and proving that you have value, you have worth,” Carroll declared at his Raiders intro press conference. “For anybody out there that’s old and wants to know how you do it, you freaking battle every day, and you compete and you find your way to get better.”
Neiko Thorpe experienced this firsthand back in 2016. After a workout with the Seahawks, Carroll called him with life-changing news: he’d made the team and had a first-class ticket back to Oakland to see his newborn daughter. That thoughtful touch showed Thorpe the team’s commitment to him, and he reciprocated with five seasons of dedication, becoming a key special teams player and captain.
For Carroll, relationships are at the core of his coaching. He sets high standards but achieves them through positivity instead of fear. His belief in playing young players without fear of mistakes has facilitated the rise of stars like Richard Sherman and many others. This approach isn’t just about wins on the field; it’s about improving lives off it.
Geno Smith, a recent addition to Carroll’s crew in Las Vegas, feels this firsthand. “Coach Carroll is extremely relatable,” Smith explained. “He understands that guys have got to be themselves in order to be their best selves.”
No matter who you are — a quiet special-teamer or a vocal leader — Carroll wants you to be uniquely yourself. It’s this ethos that keeps people connected, thriving, and believing in his vision.
In his 50-plus years of coaching, Carroll has seen it all. He’s experienced the peaks of championships and the valleys of tough seasons. Through it all, one thing remains constant — his leadership, grounded in authenticity and integrity, comes straight from the heart.
Carroll’s path wasn’t always smooth. After early bumps with the Jets and Patriots, he spent 2000 redefining his coaching philosophy, leading to phenomenal success at USC. Facing initial skepticism, Carroll’s confidence paid off with a legendary nine-year run.
This adaptability is what keeps Carroll fresh. He stays on the cutting edge of trends, from sports to social media, and surrounds himself with forward-thinking individuals to maintain his edge.
As he embarks on this latest journey with the Raiders, his reputation as a dynamo in touch with all walks of life precedes him. Greg Olson, the Raiders’ quarterbacks coach, encapsulates Carroll’s essence well: “He can relate to the rich, poor, White, Black, young or old; he does it all.”
Despite the Raiders’ storied instability, Carroll’s culture of energetic competition aims to unite everyone under a single, compelling direction. As Maxx Crosby points out, Carroll works his magic by getting everyone moving towards one common goal.
The clock might be ticking on Father Time, but Carroll has no plans of slowing down. Says Carroll: “We’re trying to take this as far as you can possibly take it. I can’t think any way else.” Indeed, as long as Carroll’s steering the ship, that journey promises to be an exhilarating one.
