Why Seattle Seahawks fans need to stop the Pete Carroll slander

Ever since the disappointing Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks fans have been quite frustrated. Mainly with head coach Pete Carroll.

If the Wild Card loss wasn’t enough, there are now numerous reports that Russell Wilson is upset with his head coach. Now, whether this is true or not, we will never know. But, the recent speculation has Seahawks fans in an angry mood.

I get the criticism of Coach Carroll. I know it’s very frustrating to see this Seattle Seahawks team finish season after season falling short of the NFC Conference Championship game. I know many are sick and tired of seeing the Seahawks trying to be a run-first team.

But, let’s not get carried away with this.

The ultimate goal of each and every single team is to win the Super Bowl.

During Pete Carroll’s 11 year tenure in Seattle, he has accomplished the following:

• Total record of 112-63-1 (holds the team record for regular-season wins)
• 10-8 in the postseason
  • Only 1 home loss during that span.
• Won Super Bowl XLVIII
• Reached back-to-back Super Bowls (XLVIII & XLIX)
• Has made the playoffs in 9 of his 11 seasons as head coach
• Drafted Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman

Also — do not forget about the exceptional motivational skills that Carroll has. It was on display when he coached at USC while building a college football dynasty and it transferred over well into the NFL. He is one of the best 2nd half coaches in the NFL as he is known for making great adjustments at halftime.

A great example of this would be this past season. A struggling defense turned into one of the best after the midway point of the season. Not too many coaches would be able to do that in such little time. But, Coach Carroll helped make the trade for Carlos Dunlap and turn this defense around.

A large part of his success in Seattle is the unconventional culture that he has created. He gives the players freedom to express themselves in the manner they wish to do so. While one could argue it led to a lot of locker room trouble after the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots, one could counter by stating that the culture was the only reason they were in the Super Bowl in the first place.

Over his tenure in Seattle, Carroll has shown he is not afraid to take risks. I know when I say that, many think of throwing the ball at the one-yard line in the Super Bowl. But, I was thinking of this past offseason where the Seahawks shocked the NFL world and traded for Jamal Adams. Perhaps, his greatest risk was giving Russell Wilson the starting job in his rookie year.

In fact, just this past week a report came out that the Seahawks offered LeBron James a tryout during the NBA lockdown.

Listen — I’m not arguing that Pete Carroll is the greatest coach of all time or that he doesn’t have any flaws. In fact, I agree with most 12s in that the Seahawks need to give more freedom to Russell Wilson offensively. I believe that is a large reason why they hired Shane Waldron as the new offensive coordinator.

It’s actually quite ironic. For starters, Carroll’s quote of wanting to run the ball more in his post-game presser got blown out of proportion. Similarly, to how these Russell Wilson rumors are spiraling out of control. But, more so in the fact that many have argued Pete Carroll is holding Russell Wilson back because of his stubbornness.

I personally believe that Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson are a match made in heaven. Their optimistic mindset and ability to uplift teammates has been a large factor in the success Seattle has found over the last decade. The Seahawks hired Shane Waldron mainly because he will bring something to this offense that they were lacking in last season: the short, intermediate pass game. Remember, Waldron is coming over from the Rams.

Los Angeles is known for motioning their wide receivers, using them as an extra blocker in the run game and then branching off of that with the play-action game. But, they do not take deep shots down the field. Rather, they focus on the short routes to a tight end or a hitch route to their wide receivers. Perhaps, that is why the Seahawks are inquiring about Eagles tight end, Zach Ertz.

Regardless, in hiring Shane Waldron, Pete Carroll is looking in the mirror and bringing in somebody that can actually help this team get better and not suit the needs or “desires” of Carroll himself. I believe the incorporation of the short, intermediate passing game along with Seattle’s love for explosive plays down the field will lead to major success in 2021.

The Seahawks and Pete Carroll

I’ll close with this. Seahawk fans should be grateful for Coach Carroll as the Seahawks have been the second-best NFC team (in terms of winning percentage) in the last decade. If the Seahawks weren’t winning, Coach Carroll wouldn’t be there anymore. I know fans want Super Bowls. Heck, I want it just as bad as you do. But, we just saw how hard it is for a team to repeat as the Kansas City Chiefs got demolished in Super Bowl LV.

It is hard to win in this league. That reason alone is why the slander needs to stop. Pete Carroll has been a pillar of consistency in Seattle. Year after year, this team finishes with a winning record and a shot at making the Super Bowl. There is not much more you could ask for as a fan.

The best is ahead for this Seahawks team.