The Seattle Seahawks have gotten a lot better since head coach and vice president of football operations Pete Carroll was removed from his duties after the 2023 season. The hire of Mike Macdonald to replace him as coach turned out to be one of brilliance.
But no one should think that everything good that has happened in the past two years is all because of general manager John Schneider and the excellence of Macdonald. Both of those people deserve any honors bestowed on them, but Carroll helped the team be successful in the years after he was let go, too.
That is because Carroll was still in charge of the roster and, therefore, the draft picks in 2023. In the first round, the coach and VP made the elite decisions to take cornerback Devon Witherspoon at pick No. 5 and then wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 20. Without those two players, Seattle probably doesn't win the Super Bowl last season.
Part of Mike Macdonald's Seattle Seahawks success is due to Pete Carroll
No decision-maker in the history of the NFL has left two parting gifts as good as Witherspoon and JSN, even if Carroll didn't mean to leave. The receiver was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, and the cornerback has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three years.
Both players, though things definitely have time to change, are on a Pro Football Hall of Fame track. Each will likely keep helping the Seattle Seahawks win a lot of games, and maybe even more championships.
Since Pete Carroll left, John Schneider has had full roster control, and he has definitely made wise decisions, especially in terms of free agency. He has added players such as DeMarcus Lawrence and Cooper Kupp, understanding that veteran leadership is key to a successful team.
Carroll oversaw the roster during his time in Seattle from 2010 through 2023. While he was too loyal to his coordinators and kept them employed when he should have gone in a different direction, he still had a keen eye for young talent in the draft.
His 2023 draft success didn't stop with Devon Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, either. Edge rusher Derick Hall and running back Zach Charbonnet were chosen in the second round.
Hall recently agreed to an extension, so he won't be leaving the Pacific Northwest anytime soon. Charbonnet is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is currently hurt, but he had 12 rushing touchdowns last year. He has 21 in three seasons.
Of course, Mike Macdonald was able to take all that talent, mix it with the rest of the roster, and turn the team into a champion, but Carroll deserves some credit. He should be remembered fondly for what he was able to do with the Seahawks.
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