Pete Carroll isn't exactly out of a job, but there's been zero news about what his advisory role with the Seahawks might be. Let's take a few not-so-wild guesses where he may land in 2024.
After 14 years on the job as the greatest head coach in Seahawks history, Pete Carroll doesn't have a defined position. In fact, with the exception of the year 2000, it's the first time since 1973 that Carroll doesn't have a well-defined role in football. Fired by the Patriots for going 8-8 in 1999, Carroll took a year off. For Pete Carroll, a year off means consulting with both NFL and college teams, writing a football column for the now-defunct CNNSI, and doing charity work for the league. You know, typical lazy Pete Carroll stuff.
Anyway, Pete has some time on his hands, at least for now. In Jody Allen's official statement, it was noted that Carroll would remain as an advisor with the Seahawks. The quote regarding his role was, "[Carroll] will continue as an integral part of our organization moving forward." There may be very specific plans in place, but as of yet, nothing has been made public. So, whither Pete? For you Cardinals fans lurking out there, "whither" means where could he be going. You're thinking of "wither", like your team's dying chances to be relevant within the next 20 years.
Pete Carroll could be coaching with a bitter Seahawks rival
Look, there's no point in beating around the bush. There's only one role that Carroll could take that would absolutely ignite the 12s, and we all know what that would be. After the 49ers lost the Super Bowl - let me write that again; it's just so satisfying - after the 49ers lost the Super Bowl, they made the rather puzzling decision to fire their defensive coordinator, Steve Wilks. There are a lot of rumors swirling around the Bay area, but as of this moment, the 49ers have not announced a new DC.
Oh, the rumors are out there. Both Jeff Ulbrich and Nick Sorenson are prominent names in the ether. But what a coup it would be for Kyle Shanahan to hire his formal rival as his defensive coordinator! Would it make sense? Not exactly, not even close. But it didn't make sense to fire the architect of the third-ranked defense in the NFL either. If nothing else, Carroll could return to the sidelines as an assistant defensive coach. He's made it clear he felt that he still had a lot left in the tank. And what better way would there be to stick it to the team that fired him than to have a chance to beat them twice a year?
Carroll could be college-bound in 2024
The thing is, Pete Carroll doesn't exactly seem like the vengeful type. Like, not at all. If the opportunity arose in San Francisco, I wouldn't blame him for making the move. If he does take a job with another NFL team, you might think it would be far more likely for Carroll to take an assistant head coaching position with a team much further east.
The Carolina Panthers recently hired Dave Canales as their head coach. Canales has strong ties with Carroll, of course. I mean, he only spent 12 years in Seattle. The only issue there is that Carolina kept the entire defensive staff intact. So where would Pete fit in? Add that Nathan Carroll joined the Panthers this offseason, and that closes the door on Carolina. There's simply no way Carroll would run any risk of outshining his son.
Carroll could certainly fit in on other NFL staffs, but it's far more likely he might find a home in the college ranks. One place Carroll won't be coaching will be at his alma mater, the University of the Pacific. The Tigers disbanded their storied football program after the 1995 season. Imagine that, a school with an enrollment of fewer than 5,000 students competing at the top collegiate level, and realizing it was just draining their resources.
Pete is a bit more famous for his work at a school a little further south. The USC Trojans remain one of college football's elite teams, even if they haven't won a national title since Carroll chewed his Bubble Yum on the sidelines of Memorial Coliseum. However, current head coach Lincoln Riley just engineered a massive overhaul of his defensive staff.
Once again, while Carroll may find himself on the sidelines in 2024 - literally, not figuratively - it won't be with the obvious organizations. Most colleges are already well into their spring practice schedule. At best, Carroll might find a home as a consultant with any number of teams. I think it's actually more likely he could still end up with a pro team in a similar role.
Advocate for the players, Pete Carroll
Carroll has spoken about his love for the players many times. Not just the players on the Seahawks, but every player on every team. As he said at his final Hawks press conference, "The real part of the league that could give us focus and direction is celebrating the players that make this game happen. And realize, and come to the understanding that you have no game without these guys. You have no level of the game without these guys, and they deserve to be seen for that."
I jokingly wrote at the time that this was the launch of Pete Carroll as the Nick Fury of the NFL. Okay, I was half-joking. As Carroll said, he went to the league a few years ago with his plan, and they rebuffed his ideas with almost zero thought. Imagine that, a corporation giving almost no thought to the people that make its vast profits possible. Perhaps in private, they thought that Carroll's ideas were all well and good, but who's going to put in that much effort?
Umm... I do believe there's someone available now with time on his hands, guys. Now I don't think for one moment that the NFL will have a change of heart, just because they guy who conceived the idea can now dedicate all of his time and considerable energy to leading it. That makes far too much sense, right? But on the other hand - almost literally on the other hand - the NFLPA might be interested. God knows they should be. With Pete Carroll spearheading the programs he spoke of, there could be real and significant changes in the future of the players and of the league.
Pete Carroll, broadcaster extraordinaire
Just as the NFL has no limits to the number of coaches allowed on a team, there are no restrictions on the number of talking heads on a football broadcast. As with the professional and collegiate organizations, most broadcast/streaming companies have their teams set already. But those teams are far more fluid in their makeup. Just ask Al Michaels how stable those positions are.
Surely the idea of adding one of the only three coaches to ever win a Super Bowl and a national college championship to a broadcast team has to have the execs salivating at the prospect. Think about it, 12s. What do you want to see from the people talking about the game, whether it's in the studio or during the game itself? First and foremost, you want someone knowledgeable about the nuances of the game. Uh, I think Pete checks that box.
It helps more than a bit if they add their own opinion to the mix. Pete Carroll, while respectful to a fault, has never been shy about voicing his opinions. Just ask any referee if they weren't sure how Carroll felt about a certain call. Ask any of his players if Carroll was ambiguous in his communications to them. With rare exceptions, Carroll didn't criticize his players publicly, but in the locker room or on the sidelines, it was clearly a different story. I'm sure he'd be respectful in his analysis, but there's no way Carroll would hold back from any commentary.
Third, you want someone who's entertaining. While you don't want someone who detracts from the game and makes the show more about themselves - Dennis Miller on Monday Night Football, anyone? - you want the analyst to add some life to the show, too. Ideally, they should be energetic, engaging, and enthusiastic. They need to have a strong personality that stands out in a team, yet has the sense to remain part of that team, always. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Peter Clay Carroll.
In fact, there's no reason that Carroll can't do all of these. He can pop in for a Sunday roundtable to discuss the week's headline games, then hit the boardroom of a major advertiser on Monday morning to promote his player initiative. Wednesday finds Carroll talking coverages with the DB room in Carolina or even - shudder- San Francisco.
I didn't miss Tuesday; on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Pete's busy leading his conferences on mindfulness and engagement at the University of the Pacific. I mean, he should be. Fridays are busy with prep work for the upcoming slate of games and a little surfing. Saturdays are spoken for. Besides the college games, he'll need time at the Bubble Yum factory. I man's gotta protect his investment. So yeah, one or every way, Pete Carroll's going to be a busy man.