Since taking over as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, Pete Carroll has been repeatedly linked to his former players from his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks.
The most notable name in this connection has been his long-time quarterback, Russell Wilson.
Wilson, who was traded to the Denver Broncos in 2022, spent two seasons under coach Sean Payton before moving to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
His performance in Pittsburgh this season earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl, marking his 10th career selection. However, when asked about the possibility of reuniting with Carroll in Las Vegas, Wilson was quick to dismiss the speculation.
“I’m looking forward to hopefully going back to the Steelers and we’ll see what happens with the rest, I love it in Pittsburgh,” Wilson said.
While Wilson has enjoyed his time in Pittsburgh, questions about his future remain, especially as he approaches 36 years old.
His age and past performance raise doubts about his viability as a long-term solution for any team.
The Steelers are still under contract with Wilson for a few more weeks, alongside backup quarterback Justin Fields, and their decision on which player to retain will be one of the offseason’s most significant storylines.
Also, if we’re being honest, a large percentage of Pittsburgh’s fanbase wouldn’t mind seeing Wilson walk out the door.
While he’s a respected veteran who’s still capable of slinging the ball, he didn’t exactly set the world on fire with the Steelers – especially down the stretch of the season when the lights were brightest.
The Raiders, meanwhile, find themselves in a position where they can’t afford to be too selective in their quarterback search.
This offseason, their strategy may mirror the approaches of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons last year: signing a veteran quarterback while also adding a younger talent to bolster the position.
Currently, the Raiders’ quarterback room is considered one of the weakest in the league, and they are looking for a way to address this gap.
Beyond Wilson’s age and his fit with the Raiders, there’s another factor to consider: Wilson’s reported attempt to get Pete Carroll fired during their final days together in Seattle.
This claim, which surfaced in early 2023, was denied by Wilson’s camp, who called the story “entirely fabricated.”
Regardless, there have long been rumors that Wilson and Carroll aren’t exactly the best of friends and their relationship may still be quite frosty.
Any possible tension between the two could complicate any potential reunion, especially given the shared history that still looms over their relationship.
Carroll and the Seahawks drafted Wilson as a third-round pick in 2012, and the two spent a decade together in Seattle.
Their time together included a Super Bowl victory and a heartbreaking loss to Tom Brady’s Patriots in 2015.
Speaking of Brady, the NFL legend, who now holds a minority ownership stake in the Raiders, has his own preferences regarding the team’s quarterback search.
While Brady (and majority owner Mark Davis) has reportedly expressed interest in Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, there’s no guarantee the Raiders will be in position to draft him at the sixth overall pick.
Even if Sanders is available, Las Vegas may still need to find a more experienced quarterback to lead the team in the short term, with Wilson likely being the most popular option in that space.
That said, Geno Smith, another former Carroll pupil, could be a more attractive option if he becomes available through trade or free agency.
Regardless of what happens, one thing is clear: Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson’s past together continues to captivate attention, but the future remains uncertain.
What are your thoughts on a possible Wilson-Carroll reunion in Vegas?
What do you think the TRUE state of their relationship is???
