Carroll is out as head coach of Seahawks after 14 seasons
Pete Carroll is out after 14 seasons as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, responsible for two NFC championships and the only Super Bowl title in franchise history during his long tenure.
The 72-year old coach is moving into an advisory role with the organization, according to a statement from owner Jody Allen on Wednesday. But it's clear that Carroll wanted to continue in the role he had for more than a decade.
“I competed pretty hard to be the coach, just so you know,” Carroll said during an emotional farewell news conference. “I just wanted to make sure I stood up for all of our coaches and the players and the things that we had accomplished. Not just so we could be the coach still, but so we could continue to have a chance to be successful and keep the organization going. That's what I was fighting for.
“I'm thrilled that we've had this run. I really am. This level of consistency that we've demonstrated is such that it makes you proud,” Carroll said.
Seattle closed the regular season with a 21-20 win at Arizona on Sunday. The Seahawks entered the final two weeks of the regular season with the chance at reaching the playoffs for the 11th time with Carroll in charge, but a Week 17 loss to Pittsburgh left Seattle in need of help it didn't get to close out the season.
Carroll will step aside as the most successful coach in franchise history, but with an unsatisfactory conclusion after several seasons of middling results. He'll forever be lauded as the first coach to bring the Lombardi Trophy to Seattle with the Super Bowl 48 victory over Denver.
But Carroll never fully recovered from what happened in the Super Bowl a year later with Russell Wilson's goalline interception in the final seconds, and Seattle never experienced another title that could erase the memories of what happened in Super Bowl 49.
Carroll stepped aside with a 137-69-1 record in the regular season in his time with the Seahawks. He led Seattle to five NFC West titles and 10 playoff wins.
But the Seahawks plateaued toward the end of Carroll's time. Seattle finished with a losing record in 2021, made the playoffs at 9-8 in 2022 and was unable to make the leap that it was expected to being more of a contender in the NFC West this season.
The question will immediately turn to Carroll's replacement and whether Seattle tries to stay within the Seahawks family tree or looks to bring in a fresh voice to work with general manager John Schneider. It will be the first time since arriving at the same time as Carroll that Schneider will have complete control over personnel.
CHARGERS INTERVIEW JOB INTERVIEWS>> The Chargers interviewed interim general manager JoJo Wooden to be Tom Telesco's permanent replacement, one day after they conducted interviews with interim coach Giff Smith and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to replace Brandon Staley.
The Spanos family has cast a wide net in each of their searches, which are running concurrently. They reportedly have asked for permission to speak to at least seven outside candidates to replace Telesco, who along with Staley was fired on Dec. 15, one day after a humiliating 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
In addition, the Chargers reportedly have asked permission to speak to at least nine possible outside candidates to replace Staley, who was 2424 during his two-plus seasons on the job, his first head coaching position. Telesco was with the Chargers for 11 seasons, dating to 2013.
University of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, only days removed from leading the Wolverines to a victory over Washington in the national championship game, is thought to be their preferred choice. He has deflected questions about leaving the school, saying he wished to enjoy the celebration in Ann Arbor.
The list of coaching candidates the Chargers have requested permission to interview includes Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
Wooden, who also started with the Chargers in 2014, was the team's director of player personnel when he was given the title of interim general manager after Telesco's firing.
The list of potential GM candidates includes assistant GMs Jeff Ireland of the New Orleans Saints, Brandon Brown of the New York Giants, Adam Peters of the San Francisco 49ers and Ian Cunningham of the Chicago Bears. Terrance Gray, the Buffalo Bills' director of player personnel, also is on the list.
— Elliott Teaford
GIANTS, DC MARTINDALE PART WAYS >> Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and the New York Giants have parted ways after coach Brian Daboll fired two of his most trusted assistant coaches.
The Giants, coming off a disappointing 6-11 season, announced the separation after more than a day of talks on how to work around the final year of Martindale's contract. He was supposed to earn in the neighborhood of $3 million in 2024.
No details of the split were released. A separation agreement could limit which teams the long-time coordinator could join if he was hired elsewhere next season.
There were reports that Martindale, 60, had submitted his resignation on Monday after the dismissals of outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins and defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins, brothers whom Martindale worked with in Baltimore and were hired by him after he got the Giants job. But Martindale never submitted a resignation, according to general manager Joe Schoen.
BEARS FIRE OFFENSIVE COACHES >> The Chicago Bears fired most of their offensive assistants, including coordinator Luke Getsy after two seasons. Quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko, wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert, running backs coach Omar Young and assistant tight ends coach Tim Zetts also were let go.