Pete Carroll to Bears? Why ex-Seahawks coach is interested in Chicago opening, per reports

The Bears have little left to play for, instead focusing on finishing out a disappointing season and hiring a new head coach in the offseason. Chicago fired Matt Eberflus after 12 games this season amid a 4-8 start, and then they lost three straight under interim head coach Thomas Brown.

While there is no shortage of options for the opening, one of the biggest names — future Hall of Fame coach Bill Belichick — took his name off the market by signing with the University of North Carolina. However, another Super Bowl-winning coach has thrown his name in the hat for the opening in Chicago.

Per reports on Wednesday, former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has expressed interest in the Bears’ coaching job. Carroll and Seattle mutually parted ways ahead of the 2024 season, and since then he has been serving as an advisor for the organization.

Here’s why Carroll reportedly has interest in the Bears’ head coach opening. 

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Reports: Pete Carroll interested in Bears coaching job

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Christmas that Carroll has expressed interest in coaching for Chicago. The former head coach became an advisor for Seattle last January and didn’t partake in that year’s NFL coaching cycle. Ahead of the 2024 season, he said he didn’t desire to come back to coaching, but since then has changed his mind. Carroll is reportedly in the best shape of his life at 73, and he’s prepared to get back to the grind of being an NFL head coach. 

While Carroll didn’t coach him directly, he came to the NFL from being the head coach at USC. Carroll has a way of developing quarterbacks, and thus, is intrigued by the idea of working with Caleb Williams. Even if Chicago doesn’t want to go with Carroll, the front office likely will conduct at least one interview to get a sense of what his plan would be for Williams and the franchise going forward.

Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk called into question Schefter’s reporting. He claimed that Carroll’s agent was using Schefter, but the ESPN analyst clapped back and said that Florio is 100% wrong. 

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Where is Pete Carroll?

Carroll surprisingly stepped down as the head coach of the Seahawks in January. The surprising move happened fast, but the organization made sure to spin that it wasn’t a firing, as the former head coach would be staying in the organization as an advisor. This allowed Carroll to also take on a part-time teaching role at USC.

Similar to Belichick, Carroll has stayed close to the game while not actually being a part of it. Belichick returned by taking a head coaching job at UNC. Could Carroll get back to the NFL with Chicago? 

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Pete Carroll NFL coaching record

Carroll’s first NFL head coaching gig was at the helm of the Jets in 1994. He was fired after just one season before moving on to the Patriots from 1997-1999. When he was fired there, it allowed the franchise to hire Bill Belichick away from the Jets.

In the meantime, Carroll went to USC and served as the head coach from 2001-09. He joined Seattle in 2010 and was the head coach until moving into his advisory role in 2024. Carroll has a total head coaching record of 170-120-1.

Jets record:

Patriots record: 

Seahawks record: