In a major NFL shakeup, Pete Carroll has been named the new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
The 73-year-old Carroll has agreed to a three-year contract with an option for a fourth season, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The veteran coach takes the reins of a team in turmoil, following a disappointing 4-13 season under former head coach Antonio Pierce, who was fired earlier this month.
Carroll, a Super Bowl-winning coach with the Seattle Seahawks, returns to the NFL after a year-long hiatus from coaching.
During his time away, Carroll served as an advisor for the Seahawks, the team he led to victory in Super Bowl XLVIII with a dominant 43-8 win over the Denver Broncos in 2013.
Now, he faces the challenge of revitalizing a struggling Raiders franchise.
According to reports, Raiders minority owner Tom Brady initially sought to hire former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for the head coaching role.
However, Johnson opted to take the top job with the Chicago Bears instead, leading Brady to pursue Carroll.
Brady has been very active in reshaping the Raiders’ leadership and has also had great respect for Carroll.
This week, Brady also played a key role in appointing John Spytek as the team’s new general manager.
The 44-year-old Spytek was previously the assistant GM for the Buccaneers and has a longstanding relationship with Brady, as the two were college teammates at Michigan.
Spytek replaces Tom Telesco, who was dismissed after just one season with the Raiders.
Carroll inherits a franchise with significant challenges, including a depleted roster and uncertainty at quarterback.
The Raiders hold the sixth overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and will be closely evaluating college quarterbacks in the lead-up to the draft.
There are also rumors that Brady and company could be interested in signing Sam Darnold in free agency.
Carroll and Spytek will now collaborate to address the team’s roster needs, starting with the quarterback dilemma.
Many Raiders fans are hoping that the team trades up in the draft to select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Regardless, Carroll will have a great deal of input on what Vegas does moving forward.
His extensive coaching experience, including his nearly two-decade tenure with the Seahawks, makes him one of the NFL’s most respected leaders.
However, at 73 years old, his appointment comes with questions about how he’ll adapt to the pressures of a franchise in flux.
Having said that, we all know that Carroll is the youngest 73-year-old walking the planet. As far as energy and sharpness is concerned, he’s 73 going on 23.
While the Raiders have plenty of questions to answer, the fact of the matter is they do have several impressive pieces already in place. Many more than people realize.
In other words, they are not as far off from contending as some think. (But they do need a quarterback, that’s for sure.)
What are your thoughts on the Raiders hiring Carroll???
