Seattle Seahawks Coach Search: 10 to Replace Pete Carroll - In-Depth Look

Seattle Seahawks Coach Search: 10 to Replace Pete Carroll - In-Depth Look

Following an illustrious 14-year run headlined by a Super Bowl XLVIII victory and 10 playoff appearances, Pete Carroll stepped down as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, ushering in a new era for the franchise.

"It's been an honor and a thrill to be part of this program, and I've loved every minute of it," Carroll said in his exit press conference on Wednesday. "You've watched me love it, in particular. And it's exciting that there's such a future here. And you can see it, and we know it's happening. It's bright and the club's got great places to go and there's great chances."

With Carroll set to move into an advisory role, Seahawks general manager John Schneider will be tasked with the challenge of finding his successor in coming days and weeks. Having never hired his own head coach before, it remains unknown what the renowned executive will be looking for replacing a legend on the sideline.

Keeping all options on the table as Seattle begins the search process for a new coach, which candidates could be potential targets for Schneider? From former Carroll assistants to once-hated NFC West rivals, here's a peek at 10 candidates who would make the most sense to fill Carroll's massive shoes.

Carroll's Coaching Tree

Dan Quinn, Cowboys Defensive Coordinator

Already linked to Seattle's opening as a potential successor, Quinn's ties to the organization run deep. After being on Jim Mora Jr.'s staff in 2009, he was one of the few who Carroll retained when he arrived from USC before spending two seasons at Florida in the college ranks. He returned as Gus Bradley's replacement as defensive coordinator in 2013 and thrived in that role coaching the "Legion of Boom" defense, helping the Seahawks make the Super Bowl in both of his seasons as play caller, turning that success into a head coaching gig with the Falcons.

Coaching three seasons under Carroll before being hired by the Falcons, Quinn would be the most natural fit as a successor with the Seahawks

Quinn's time in Atlanta proved to be a mixed bag, as he led the team to a Super Bowl in his second season, only to suffer a devastating loss to New England after leading 28-3. The Falcons only made the playoffs twice in his five-plus seasons before firing him midway through 2020.

He has since restored his luster, however, as Quinn has transformed a once-poor Cowboys defense into one of the NFL's best units. In three seasons as a coordinator under coach Mike McCarthy, Dallas has finished no worse than seventh in scoring defense, including finishing fifth each of the past two seasons. If there's a coach who can bring the Seahawks back to their glory days on the defensive side of the ball and would seamlessly mesh with the culture instilled by Carroll and Schneider, the New Jersey native fits the bill.

Dave Canales, Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator

While he doesn't have the head coaching experience Quinn offers, if the Seahawks want to go in a different direction with an offensive mind taking the reins, bringing back Canales would be an intriguing option. A long-time assistant who wore many different hats working under Carroll, including most recently serving as quarterback coach in 2022, his first season as an NFL play caller in Tampa Bay has rightfully been viewed as a roaring success.

Just as he did with Geno Smith one year earlier, Canales rejuvenated Baker Mayfield's career this season, helping the former No. 1 overall pick throw for over 4,000 yards with 28 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions. The Buccaneers weren't an offensive juggernaut by any means, finishing 20th in scoring offense and dead last in rushing offense. But the group improved as the season progressed, helping the team win five of their final six games to win the NFC South.

Only 42 years old, Canales already has been linked to the Panthers head coaching vacancy. Though some teams may be skeptical about hiring him with no prior head coaching experience at any level, the Seahawks have seen him thrive in multiple coaching positions being groomed by Carroll and his offensive background could be exactly what Schneider is looking for to take the team to the next level.

Former NFC West Rivals

Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Head Coach

Previously serving as San Francisco's head coach and holding a feud with Carroll dating back to their days as college coaches in the now-defunct Pac-12, there would be plenty of irony if Seattle zeroed in on Harbaugh as his successor. Some fans would have a tough time grasping with the idea of him roaming the sideline in his khakis wearing navy and green, especially after his Wolverines defeated the Washington Huskies in the national championship game.

But looking beyond the rift between him and Carroll, who told reporters he would not be involved in the coaching search on Wednesday, swinging the fences by opening up the checkbook for Harbaugh makes great sense on numerous levels. Whether coaching at FCS program San Diego, San Francisco, or Michigan, he has won big everywhere he has been, implementing physical run games and stout defenses at every stop along the way. If he could replicate that in Seattle, there's no question the team would return to contender status in quick order.

Of course, trying to pry Harbaugh away from his alma mater will be expensive, especially with him reportedly weighing a 10-year, $125 million deal from Michigan. But the allure of chasing after the Lombardi Trophy remains and the Seahawks have quite the feather in their cap for a coach who loves holding grudges coming in the form of the 49ers, who they can offer him the chance to beat twice a year.

Steve Wilks, 49ers Defensive Coordinator

Like Quinn, Wilks failed in his first opportunity as a head coach, lasting only one season with the Cardinals as his team floundered to a 3-13 record before being fired. But when granted the chance to take over for Matt Rhule midway through the 2022 season in Carolina, he nearly led the Panthers to the playoffs as an interim coach, posting a 6-6 record that included a win over the Seahawks in Seattle.

Many believed Carolina should have taken the interim tag off of Wilks and retained him as the head coach, but owner David Tepper had other plans, choosing to hire Frank Reich instead. Without any other head coaching options, the 54-year old took his coaching talents to San Francisco as a replacement for defensive coordinator Demeco Ryans and the defense didn't miss a beat under his watch, finishing third in scoring defense and fifth in takeaways.

In hiring Wilks, Seattle could kill two birds with one stone in a sense. For one, the team would hire an established, well-respected leader with a long track record of building quality defenses. Secondly, hiring him away from San Francisco would hurt its main division rival, forcing them to hire a new coordinator for a second straight season, while also giving them a head coach with in-depth knowledge of defending the 49ers offense.

Veteran Coaching Guard

Mike Vrabel, Former Titans Head Coach

Suffering back-to-back losing seasons, Vrabel's tenure in Tennessee didn't end well with a talent-depleted roster leading to sub-par results. But in his first four seasons, he posted a 41-24 record, guiding the franchise to three playoff appearances and a surprise AFC Championship game appearance, earning Coach of the Year honors after the 2021 season.

Being an established head coach, Vrabel will be sought after by several teams, could be pricey to hire, and may be looking for a situation where he has significant involvement in personnel decisions. Schneider likely won't be eager to cede some of the power he just gained with Carroll's exit, but at the same time, he may be more willing to consider the possibility for a proven commodity with a defensive background who has won a ton of games in the NFL.

Brian Flores, Vikings Defensive Coordinator

In his first head coaching stint, Flores found moderate success with the Dolphins, posting winning seasons in 2020 and 2021. But he couldn't get Miami over the hump to earn a playoff spot, leading to his much-publicized dismissal following three seasons.

Teams stayed away from Flores after he filed a lawsuit against the NFL, but in similar fashion to Quinn, he's restored some of his shine in stops with the Steelers and Vikings over the past two seasons. Taking over a defense that finished 28th in scoring defense prior to his arrival, he oversaw substantial improvement in Minnesota with the unit jumping up to 13th in scoring defense under his watch in 2023. A great defensive mind who is still just 42 years old, the Seahawks may be the perfect fit for him to have far greater success in round two as a head coach.

Eric Bieniemy, Commanders Offensive Coordinator

Following several offseasons of coming up short pursuing his first head coaching job, Bieniemy left the comforts of Kansas City working with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes to join Ron Rivera's staff in Washington. Things started off quite bumpy with players reportedly disliking his "intense" coaching style and the end results weren't pretty as the Commanders finished 25th in scoring offense.

With that said, Bieniemy's lone season in the nation's capital shouldn't be viewed as a complete failure. While Sam Howell struggled in the second half, he still threw for over 3,900 yards and 21 touchdowns running Bieniemy's offense. Teaming him up with an established quarterback such as Smith and the bevy of weapons at his disposal, it's possible he could maximize Seattle's offensive potential and push the team back into contention behind a high-flying attack.

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Ascending Young Guns

Ben Johnson, Lions Offensive Coordinator

One of the architects of Detroit's impressive revival, Johnson has turned Jared Goff into a top-10 quarterback and built a dynamic running game in the Motor City. In each of his two seasons as coordinator, the Lions have finished fifth in scoring offense, and they made marked improvements this year jumping to second in total passing yardage and fifth in total rushing yardage.

Last spring, Johnson had opportunities to become a head coach, but opted to bypass them to stay in Detroit and take care of unfinished business. Now that the Lions have won the NFC North and will enter the playoffs as the No. 3 seed with a chance to do some damage, he may be ready to lead his own team and the Seahawks have the offensive talent to present an enticing package compared to other potential suitors.

Bobby Slowik, Titans Offensive Coordinator

Though he's only 36 years old, Slowik has been in the NFL for 10 seasons with three different teams, learning under 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan as an assistant with Washington and San Francisco. Offering a unique background as a former defensive assistant and passing game specialist, he thrived in his first opportunity as a coordinator in Houston, helping rookie C.J. Stroud throw 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions while guiding the team to an AFC South title.

Like Johnson a year ago, depending how the Texans do in the postseason, Slowik could be inclined to stay on Ryan's staff as a coordinator for one more season paired with Stroud. But the chance to coach a Seahawks offense featuring talented players such as DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba may be too good to pass up, especially with a capable pocket passer in Smith to run his offense.

Mike MacDonald, Ravens Defensive Coordinator

Hiring a hot shot offensive mind has been the trendy move for coach-needy teams in recent seasons. But for those teams that desire dramatic improvements on defense, MacDonald stands out as the biggest rising star in the head coaching pool after transforming the Ravens back into one of the league's elite units. Under his watch, Baltimore has finished ninth and fifth in scoring defense in the previous two seasons, and they finished first in sacks and takeaways in 2023.

While fans may desire an offensive coach, Seattle's defense has been the side of the ball where it has been lacking compared to the NFC's best teams in recent seasons. Taking a swing on a young coach like MacDonald could pay immediate dividends improving a defense that finished 24th in scoring in 2024, helping Smith and the offense by default and potentially pushing the Seahawks back into contention right away.