One of the problems with unbridled, outlandish optimism is that it sometimes leads to you coaching the Las Vegas Raiders. Seahawks’ legend Pete Carroll learned that lesson the hard way after he was fired by Mark Davis on Black Monday. Carroll had signed a three-year, $45 million deal to be the Raiders' head coach after the 2024 season.
The move was entirely expected. The Raiders finished 3-14 in Carroll’s only season, and if anything, things were even worse than the record indicated. Despite having some decent young talent, Las Vegas’ roster clearly needs major upgrades. Several key injuries did nothing to improve Carroll’s fortunes this season, but his biggest wound was self-inflicted.
In addition to being wildly optimistic, Carroll is also extremely loyal. His loyalty to veteran quarterback Geno Smith this year may be the primary reason the coach was unable to generate much enthusiasm from his fanbase or his bosses.
Pete Carroll exits Las Vegas still clinging to his Seattle Seahawks past
“He was willing to die on the Geno Smith hill, and he did indeed do that.”
That’s the opinion of Levi Dombro, site expert at Just Blog Baby, FanSided’s Raiders’ website. Carroll knew from day one that he would have to solve the Raiders’ QB dilemma. In 2024, Las Vegas was led by journeyman Garnder Minshew. He split time with soon-to-be-journeymen QBs Aiden O’Connell and Desmond Ridder. None had a winning record as starters.
Carroll looked for salvation in the quarterback who had led a brief resurgence when the coach and player were together in Seattle. In March, Las Vegas dealt a third-round pick to the Seahawks for the 34-year-old signal caller, who had been the comeback player of the year in 2022. A month later, Smith was given a contract extension.
It was obvious that Carroll was putting all his eggs in the Geno Smith basket.
Smith responded with his worst year as a starter since his early days with the New York Jets. He led the league in two categories no quarterback wants to be associated with – interceptions and sacks. No one has ever questioned Smith’s bravery or toughness, but this season, the production simply wasn’t there.
To be fair, this was not all Smith’s fault. Not by a long shot. The Raiders entered the season with serious questions on the offensive line. Then they lost their best lineman, Kolton Miller, four weeks into the season, and starting center Jackson Powers-Johnson at the midpoint.
Seattle fans may remember the name Stone Forsythe. He started most of the year at left tackle for Las Vegas.
All-world tight end Brock Bowers missed a lot of time with injuries, as did his bookend Michael Mayer. At the trade deadline, Las Vegas dealt wide receiver Jakobi Meyers for draft capital and has been using Jack Bech and former Seahawk Tyler Locket at receiver of late. The coordinator Carroll brought in to run his offense, Chip Kelly, did not last a year before being fired.
Clearly, Geno Smith was not the only problem on offense. But he has been the quarterback, and the lion’s share of both credit and blame will fall on him. Whatever magic existed back in 2022 and 2023 seems a distant memory at this point. John Schneider and Mike Macdonald recognized that last season, and moved on.
Pete Carroll did not, and now he is out of a job.