Jan 7, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll appears on previous to dealing with the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports activities On Friday morning, the Las Vegas Raiders knowledgeable different candidates that they’re working to rent Pete Carroll as their subsequent head coach.
Carroll was the top coach of the Seattle Seahawks till 2023, once they determined to maneuver in one other route and rent Mike Macdonald.
At 73 years outdated, Carroll will make NFL historical past when he coaches for the Raiders, changing into the oldest head coach in NFL historical past. He turns 74 years outdated on September 15, which is often the week after the common season begins.
Whereas Carroll may be the youngest 73-year-old that you’d ever meet, the Raiders are formally on the clock to show this franchise round shortly. Positive, age is only a quantity. However all of us have an expiration date on this Earth, and he’s not the identical youthful chief that coached USC within the early 2000s.
The Raiders received youthful once they changed Jon Gruden with Josh McDaniels after which even youthful once they employed Antonio Pierce, who solely lasted one full season as head coach in Vegas.
Whereas different groups just like the Chicago Bears scrambled to rent younger, hotshot coordinators like Ben Johnson, the Raiders determined to take their very own method by hiring a confirmed winner who can create a much-needed tradition in Las Vegas.
We’ve heard reviews that Tom Brady, who’s now a minority proprietor of the Raiders, has a loud voice all through the group. Most likely not a nasty factor, since he’s achieved his justifiable share of profitable within the NFL not so way back.
Brady’s time with Invoice Belichick was historic. On the finish of his profession, Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been coached by Bruce Arians, who turned the oldest coach to ever win a Tremendous Bowl at 68 years outdated. Whereas the ending was reasonably unceremonious, there’s no denying that Brady’s affect on the Raiders allowed them to think about an older candidate like Carroll.
The Raiders will now pivot their consideration to discovering their quarterback of the longer term.
Earlier this week, Vegas employed Buccaneers assistant GM John Spytek, one other particular person with a connection to Brady from their time collectively in Tampa.
Vegas owns the No. 6 general choice within the NFL Draft. It’s early on within the course of, however it looks as if each Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders shall be chosen by that point.
By no means sleep on the Raiders as a staff to get aggressive and commerce up in the event that they fall in love with certainly one of these prospects, particularly after hiring Carroll to steer the group.
Or, maybe the Raiders enable Carroll to ascertain an identification and tradition, draft the very best participant obtainable, and take the newly fashionable path of the stopgap quarterback. Trusted veterans like Russell Wilson shall be obtainable, and reviews point out that he’s repaired his relationship with Carroll over the previous few years.
Kirk Cousins shall be a well-liked identify all through this offseason as effectively, but when the Raiders actually needed to worth media consideration over tradition constructing, Aaron Rodgers appeared like the higher quarterback bouncing again from an Achilles harm final season.
No matter route the Raiders resolve to take, they should do it urgently. Whereas none of us are getting any youthful, that’s very true for his or her new head coach.
Oh yeah, that Maxx Crosby man actually needs to win, too. He’s fairly good, and it might be good to make him glad.
