Seahawks Surprise? Geno Smith, Pete Carroll Ranked High for QB-Coach Duo

With Geno Smith and Pete Carroll's experience and talent, the Seattle Seahawks have a great chance to make noise in a weakened NFC West division this season.

Historically speaking, it’s nearly impossible to win a Super Bowl without having elite talent at quarterback and head coach. 

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith's career resurgence last season helped Seattle to an unexpected postseason run. Along the way, Smith earned his first-ever Pro Bowl selection, lead the league in completion percentage and won the Comeback Player of the Year award.

After leading the NFC with 30 touchdown passes, Smith hopes to continue his impressive play as Seattle reloads its roster to be legitimate playoff contenders. 

Since joining the Seahawks in 2010, coach Pete Carroll has 128 wins and only three losing campaigns. At 71 years old, Carroll is the oldest coach in the league and is 'having the time of his life' coaching the Seahawks this season.

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Together, Smith and Carroll have yet to win a playoff game, but SI ranked the Seahawks tandem as No. 8 collectively. This No. 8 spot came as a combination of Smith's No. 15 ranking and Carroll at No. 7.

Sports Illustrated poses the question: Who would have thought the Seahawks would have one of the top tandems in the league?

"Smith went from a bust, to a backup, to one of the best stories in the NFL," Writes SI. "After making his first Pro Bowl in his age-32 season, Smith is now leading one of the most complete rosters in football, while Carroll continues to rack up winning seasons."

Unsurprisingly, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid topped the poll as the league's best duo, as the only current combo to have won two Super Bowls together.

The Seahawks will look to build on a surprising run the the playoffs after an offseason full of roster moves and additions. Seattle has the 14th-best odds to win the Super Bowl this season. With Smith and Carroll's experience and talent, the Seahawks have a great chance to make noise in a weakened NFC West division this season.