Pete Carroll retirement noise circulated briefly as the season wound down, but the longtime Seahawks head coach swatted those away Monday morning. The NFL’s oldest HC is planning to stay on for a 15th season in 2024.
The Seahawks finished 9-8 for a second straight season. Considering the draft capital the team used from the back end of the Russell Wilson haul, the eight-loss season and playoff absence represents a disappointment. Carroll, 72, is still aiming to turn things around next season.
“I plan to be coaching this team,” Carroll said, via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta. “I’m not worn out. I’m not tired. I need to do a better job.”
Despite making a buyer’s trade by landing Leonard Williams from the Giants (for second- and fifth-round picks), the Seahawks did not boast an upper-echelon defense. Carroll being a defense-oriented head coach, this is obviously a disappointment. Seattle will send New York the No. 48 overall pick in 2024 for Williams, who is on track for free agency. The Carroll- and Clint Hurtt-run defense ranked 25th in scoring and 30th in yards allowed. Even as the Seahawks have steadily plummeted on that side of the ball, a 30th-place finish represents a new Carroll-era low for the franchise.
While Carroll expects changes (via The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar), the veteran HC indicated this is the case only because there are usually changes at this time of year.
Carroll hired Hurtt to run the defense in 2022, ousting Ken Norton Jr. But Seattle’s defense has regressed over the past several years. The only defense since the 1950s Browns to go rank first in points allowed in four consecutive years, the Seahawks are long past their Legion of Boom days. They have not ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense since 2016. That said, Norton’s group finished 11th in 2021. Hurtt’s units have now gone 25th-25th in his two seasons calling the shots.
The Seahawks have Geno Smith tied to a team-friendly contract — a three-year, $75MM deal that includes barely $28MM guaranteed — so it would not be shocking to see Wilson’s successor receive a third season as QB1. Smith, 33, finished 12th in QBR this season. The Seahawks also have their top two running backs and top three wide receivers each signed for at least two more seasons.
As for Carroll, his most recent extension runs through 2024 with an option for 2025. Without a 10-win season since 2020, Wilson’s last non-injury-plagued year in Seattle, Carroll signing another extension may generate more discussion among ownership. The team had evaluated contingency plans in the event Carroll did choose to retire, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero note. Unless Jody Allen would want to move on from Carroll, he will stay in place for the 2024 campaign. The former Jets and Patriots HC will turn 73 in September.
sigh
He’s a good coach
Something’s missing with Pete. You know… Winning… If he stays on and makes the draft choice calls and dictates to his OC and DC we can count on more mediocrity from the Seahawks into the future…
This is a positive thing; regardless on who writes differently here or on other venues. There is rapidly changing times coming to this team soon. The breakdown, rebuild and foundering that many of us remember well in the 70, 80, 90’s is not fun. The consistency over the past 14 seasons, being competitive and in the playoffs for 10 of them, is something that garners Pete a final shot at finishing his career on his terms.
Pete has a way of growing on you. I like that he gives aging veterans a final chance to make a roster when other coaches have lost faith. I’m sure many players respect him for that loyalty. It’s unfortunate that one terrible call in a SB will be forever attached to his legacy.