'Following A Legend!' Teary-Eyed Pete Carroll Move Sends Seahawks On Coach Search

Replacing a legendary head coach is a daunting task for any predecessor … a lesson now former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll can attest to from personal experience.

With the news of Pete Carroll’s exit as Seattle Seahawks head coach still sending shockwaves throughout the NFL universe, most would agree that the 72-year-old is leaving significant “shoes to fill” for his successor. 

In fact, some may say whoever takes the Seahawks’ reins for 2024 and beyond will be replacing a legend. 

During his 14 seasons at the helm of Seattle’s gridiron ship, Carroll compiled 137 wins, along with a .606 winning percentage — both of which are the highest in Seahawks history. Carroll’s Seahawks earned winning seasons in 11 under his direction, while notching 10 playoff victories. If course, his time with the organization will best be remembered for leading the Seahawks to their only league championship with a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. 

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Needless to say, the task of following in Carroll’s footsteps will be a daunting task.  

However, the Seattle’s now former head coach may actually be his heir apparent’s best source of wisdom when attempting to avoid the pitfalls of succeeding a prosperous and popular predecessor. 

After all, Carroll himself did just that in 1997 when he accepted the head coaching position with the New England Patriots. 

In his three years with the Pats, Carroll built a 27-21 record and twice reached the playoffs. While his final season in New England resulted in missing the playoffs, some may argue that Carroll may have been given insufficient time to put his stamp on the franchise he pseudo-inherited from Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells. Rather than give Carroll the chance to turn the tide, the Patriots fired him — thus paving the way for the hiring of Bill Belichick.

Despite unceremoniously removing him from his post, Patriots owner Robert Kraft maintained the highest respect for Carroll, stating that firing him was one of the toughest decisions he has had to make since buying the team.

“A lot of things were going on that made it difficult for him to stay, some of which were out of his control,” Kraft said after Carroll’s dismissal in 1999. “And it began with following a legend.”

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Perhaps fittingly, Carroll now finds himself as the outgoing legend. In remaining with the organization as an advisor, he will assuredly lend both his insight and voice to the hiring of Seattle’s new coach. Accordingly, the first order of business will be building both a roster and a strategy which will bring postseason play back to the franchise’s collective consciousness. 

While winning has become a way of life in Seattle, Carroll may well remind all who comprise the team’s brain trust to not only hire the most qualified candidate, but to also provide their choice with the proper amount of time to build their own “legend” in the Emerald City. 

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