Why did the Raiders hire Pete Carroll? Super Bowl-winning coach makes NFL return with Las Vegas

Another Super Bowl-winning coach is joining the AFC West. 

The Raiders agreed to a deal to make Pete Carroll their next head coach on Friday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, bringing the former Seahawks coach back to the NFL a year after his surprising exit from Seattle.

Turning 74 in September, Carroll will become the oldest head coach in NFL history when he coaches his first game with the Raiders. He never acted his age during his time with the Seahawks, however, showcasing an energy that few coaches of any age bring to a team.

In what’s likely his final act as an NFL coach, Carroll is aiming to get the Raiders back on track in a division that includes the reigning champion Chiefs.

Here’s what you need to know about the Raiders’ decision to hire Carroll.

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Why did the Raiders hire Pete Carroll?

After the Raiders were passed over by now-Bears head coach Ben Johnson, there weren’t many indications of where a Tom Brady-led search would turn. It isn’t a surprise that the answer was a much older, more dependable coach loaded with experience.

The Raiders are looking to restore credibility after yet another rocky season, and the Seahawks were a fundamentally sound team throughout Carroll’s tenure. Las Vegas seemed to be multiple tiers below the rest of the AFC West in 2024. The hope is Carroll can at least raise the floor for the franchise while leaning on his championship experience. 

Carroll’s interview with the team “went very well,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported, and the veteran coach “sold a vision on how to help a team in transition.”

Brady wanted to hire somebody he “had respect for,” Schefter reported, adding that the Raiders believe Carroll can “turn around the culture” of the franchise. 

While Johnson might have been the long-term solution the Raiders badly needed in the head coaching role, Carroll is someone who can get the franchise moving in the right direction before handing the baton to someone else.

At nearly 74, Carroll likely isn’t going to spend the next decade coaching in Las Vegas. Still, the Raiders likely recognize asking a first-year coach to step in and compete with Andy Reid, Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh isn’t the wisest choice.

The Raiders were willing to take that chance with Johnson, who looked up to the challenge in Detroit, but once he was off the board, Carroll represented a path back to respectability as a team. 

While Brady doesn’t have a close connection to Carroll, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports Brady has “long admired” the former Seahawks coach and is hoping Carroll will “reset the culture” in Las Vegas.

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How old is Pete Carroll?

Carroll is 73 years old; he’s set to turn 74 in September and will be the oldest head coach in NFL history when he coaches his first gams for the Raiders.

Here’s a look at the five oldest head coaches in NFL history:

* – Will be the oldest when he makes Raiders coaching debut.

** – Crennel only served as the Texans’ interim coach in 2020.

Here are the oldest active head coaches, with Carroll easily leading the way:

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Pete Carroll coaching record

Carroll is 17th all-time with 170 wins, with 137 coming during his 14-year stint in Seattle. He spent three seasons as the Patriots’ head coach and one at the helm of the Jets during the 1990s.

After rebuilding his reputation at the college level, Carroll added a Super Bowl win to his resume in 2013. His 170 wins rank behind only Andy Reid, Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh among active coaches. 

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