Carroll’s tenure in Seattle ending after 14 seasons
Team is changing direction over coach’s objections
RENTON, Wash. — To the very end, Pete Carroll did things his way.
As media, Seahawks staffers and a handful of players that included quarterback Geno Smith and linebacker Bobby Wagner waited for Carroll to take the podium at the team facility one last time Wednesday afternoon, music blared.
Celebratory, happy tunes such as “I Love Music” by the O’jays.
And during a roughly 30-minute news conference in which he discussed the team’s decision to remove him as coach after 14 seasons, Carroll tried — as he did throughout his time in Seattle — to accentuate the positive.
“We weren’t anything, and then we were something,” said Carroll, who led Seattle to its only Super Bowl title after the 2013 season and leaves as the winningest coach in franchise history. “We made something special.”
Throughout, Carroll insisted he made something special again with the Seahawks even though they missed the playoffs with a 9-8 record this season.
“There’s no doubt,” he said when asked if the Seahawks have what it takes to to again become elite. “There’s no doubt in my mind.”
And as late as Monday afternoon, when he met with players before they headed into the offseason following Sunday’s season finale, Carroll said he thought he would still coach in 2024.
“No,” he said when asked if he knew then that he wouldn’t return.
But in meetings with team chair Jody Allen, general manager John Schneider and others Monday and Tuesday, Carroll said it became clear the team wanted to go in a new direction despite his protestations.
“I competed hard to be the coach, just so you know,” he said.
But Carroll — who turned 72 on Sept. 15 and was the NFL’S oldest active coach — said he eventually came around to understanding why the team wanted to move on.
“We got to a good part, good, clean spot where it made sense, and I went along with their intentions,” he said. ”We had our year-ending meetings with ownership and planning sessions, just talking through stuff, getting ready. It takes us to the point where you get to what’s next. And this isn’t about me being the head coach. It’s about this organization being successful and being on course for the long haul of it as well. I realize that. I’m about as old as you can get in this business. There’s coming a time they’ve got to make some decisions.”
In a statement, Allen attempted to portray the parting as collaborative, saying: “After thoughtful meetings and careful consideration for the best interest of the franchise, we have amicably agreed with Pete Carroll that his role will evolve from Head Coach to remain with the organization as an advisor.”
Allen said of Carroll’s adviser role that: “His expertise in leadership and building a championship culture will continue as an integral part of our organization moving forward.”
Carroll’s contract, thought to pay him at least $15 million a year, runs through the 2024 season with an option for 2025.
Carroll, though, seemed to dismiss the idea he will have any major say in team moves going forward.
“If there’s some way I can add something to them down the road, we’ll see,” he said.