One of the things that began to lose Pete Carroll the locker room with the Seattle Seahawks is his penchant for being overly positive. That is a good trait for someone, but if you are around that person every day for hours, you might begin to suspect that the person is being fake.
Carroll isn't fake, but he can be overly positive when the moment calls for brevity and logic. He can border on being hyperbolic. In a press conference at Las Vegas Raiders training camp, Carroll crossed that border and moved well beyond.
The former Seahawks coach and new Raiders coach was asked about his team's defense. Carroll said how excited he was about the group. Fine. That is normal Pete-speak. But then the coach broke down his secondary, and this is where the proverbial wheels fell off.
Pete Carroll says the silliest thing about the Seattle Seahawks' Legion of Boom and the Raiders' current secondary
Carroll said, "I'm fired up about the back end (secondary). We're clearly athletic, really fast, and we're really big. It's an impressive group. I can't remember ever having a group that looks more impressive than this group...My guys (from the Legion of Boom) will be pissed at me that I said that."
In other words, the current Raiders secondary is more impressive than the LOB edition of the Seahawks' secondaries in the mid-2010s. Poppycock. Not only was the Seattle secondary much better than the current Raiders group, but the Legion of Boom was arguably the best secondary ever.
"I'm fired up about the secondary. We're really athletic, fast, and big. My guys are going to be pissed at me (Legion of Boom)."
— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) July 22, 2025
Pete Carroll likens the Raiders' young secondary to the Seahawks' Legion of Boom, praising their athleticism, speed, and size.
🎥: @MikeDixon_VST… pic.twitter.com/gBnbC2sjRY
Pete Carrol has to know it, too. Any criticism about his persistent happiness and hyperbole stems from the kinds of things he said on Tuesday. What he said isn't possibly unbelievable; it literally is.
No player on the Raiders presumed starting secondary has made a Pro Bowl in their career. The two safeties, two outside corners, and the nickelback have a combined nine interceptions in their careers (a combined total of 17 seasons). Seahawks great Richard Sherman had eight interceptions in a single season, and he did so twice.
Between 2010 and 2018, Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas combined for 72 interceptions, 14 Pro Bowls, and 11 either First Team- or Second-Team All-Pro teams. Carroll comparing the LOB to the 2025 Raiders secondary isn't just silly, but it's offensive.
Pete Carroll didn't want to leave the Seattle Seahawks after the 2022 season. He was relieved of his duties as the team had become mediocre. He remains a well-liked former coach. But if he keeps making comments as he did about the Legion of Boom, many 12s will like Carroll a little bit less.