The Seattle Seahawks will no longer have Pete Carroll as their head coach moving forward. The team and Carroll parted ways last week. This came after Seattle had missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons.
But even though Carroll is gone, there are lots of great memories from wins his teams brought us over the last 14 seasons. Carroll took the team to the postseason 10 times and the Super Bowl twice. He is inarguably the best head coach in Seahawks history.
Since there are so many amazing wins Pete Carroll gave Seahawks fans across his 14 years as a Seahawks head coach, here are the 10 best that stand out. And, yes. Keeping the list to 10 was difficult.
10 best victories for the Seattle Seahawks under Pete Carroll
No. 10 - September 12, 2022: Seahawks stun Russell Wilson and the Broncos
The Seahawks came into this game as heavy underdogs in a surreal showdown with their former quarterback Russell Wilson. Pete Carroll's defense would come through with two massive goal-line stands, by forcing two fumbles near the end zone and recovering both. Geno Smith would steal the show, with an impressive 23/28 passing day, throwing for 195 yards.
The game ended after a controversial decision by Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett at the end of the game to kick a 63-yard field goal, which missed wide left. Giving Pete Carroll a sweet victory over his former quarterback. Afterward, Geno Smith would have the quote of the night, "They wrote me off, I ain't write back though".
No. 9 - October 14, 2012: Seahawks beat Patriots, Sherman tells Brady, "You Mad Bro"?
This game was played at the beginning of the LOB era and was incredibly fun to watch the Seahawks beat the defending AFC Champions. Russell Wilson would throw for 293 yards and three touchdown passes. The LOB would come up with two big interceptions of Tom Brady, including one by Richard Sherman and another by Earl Thomas.
The Seahawks took the lead late in the game on an incredible 46-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Sidney Rice with 1:18 left in the game. Seattle's defense would come up big on the next possession, not allowing the Patriots to get even a first down, sealing a Seahawks victory. Richard Sherman reportedly came up to Tom Brady after the game and yelled at him, "You mad bro?" though whether that was just a fan creating a meme or Sherman actually said the phrase is open for debate.
Pete Carroll's best: Games 8 through 6
No. 8 - September 24, 2012: Seahawks win on "Immaculate Reception"
In an early season showdown with the Packers on MNF, the Seahawks were looking to make a name for themselves as they took on NFC power Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers was in his prime back then, and the Seahawks defense would play an outstanding game against him. Keeping Rodgers from throwing a single touchdown pass, and sacking him eight times (Chris Clemons had four sacks, Brandon Mebane had two, and rookie Bruce Irvin had two) keeping the 'Hawks in the game.
The game came down to the final seconds, as Russell Wilson led the Seahawks down the field. With the ball on the Packers 24-yard line, with 0:08 left in the game, Wilson heaved up one last-second pass. Seahawks receiver Golden Tate reached up and caught the pass "simultaneously" with Packers DB MD Jennings, to win the game, in what would be called nationally, "the Fail Mary". For the Seahawks though, it was an "immaculate reception".
No. 7 - December 23, 2012: Seahawks put the 49ers on notice
The Seahawks at the time were considered to be just below the 49ers level. The Niners had won the division title the year before and were on track to win another one. The Seahawks would let them know they were coming with a powerful win over the Niners on Sunday Night Football.
Seattle's LOB defense came up big all night long with several big hits by "Bam Bam" Kam Chancellor. Richard Sherman would also add an interception. Marshawn Lynch would rush for 111 yards and a touchdown. Russell Wilson would throw for four touchdowns. As the Seahawks plastered the Niners 42-13.
No. 6 - September 15, 2013: Seahawks show they are the best in the NFC West
In the second game of the Seahawks' Super Bowl season, the 'Hawks took on the defending NFC Champion 49ers on Sunday Night Football. The LOB and the Seahawks' defense stole the show on this night. Forcing Colin Kaepernick to throw three interceptions one by each member of the LOB (Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, and Earl Thomas). While making Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh look flustered all night long.
Marshawn Lynch would also have a big night as he rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns. As the Seahawks powered past the Niners 29-3. The Seahawks looked like a championship team that night and showed the football world just how good they could be.
Pete Carroll's best: Games 4 and 3
No. 5 - December 2, 2013: Seahawks say, "We that team that beat the Saints"
At the time, the Saints were one of the best teams in the NFC during the 2013 season. The Seahawks showed why they were the best with another spectacular defensive performance. Shutting down an explosive Saints offense led by QB Drew Brees. The Seahawks would allow just seven points in another Monday Night beat down.
Defensive ends Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril would have the play of the day with an awesome strip sack from Avril, which led to a 22-yard fumble return touchdown for Bennett. The Seahawks rolled from that point on. Russell Wilson threw for three touchdowns and 310 yards passing. Seattle's defense held the Saints to just 188 total yards, in a 34-7 blowout win over the Saints.
No. 4 - January 8, 2011: "Beast Quake" erupts in Seattle
The Seahawks in an earlier matchup with the Saints had one of the most iconic moments in the Pete Carroll era. In a game where the Seahawks came in as big underdogs at home against the defending champion Saints, Pete Carroll had his team ready for New Orleans. As the Seahawks hosted the Saints, after just barely squeaking into the playoffs on a win over the Rams the week before.
Seattle's offense came to play against the Saints as they put up more points than they had in any game all season. Matt Hasselback in one of his last games as Seahawks quarterback, put up four touchdowns and 272 yards passing.
The star of the game though was Marshawn Lynch who had 131 yards rushing, including the moment that signified his career in Seattle. A 67-yard touchdown run in which he broke several would-be Saints' tackles en route to the end zone, as Quest Field went wild! Capping a 41-36 Seahawks win!
No. 3 - January 18, 2015: Seahawks win NFC Championship with an epic comeback
This win signified everything Pete Carroll brought to the Seahawks that no matter what, the team would never say die. After a rough start to the NFC Championship against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, the Seahawks could have given up. They trailed 16-0 at halftime and just did not look like themselves throughout the first half.
In the second half, however, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks would pull out all the stops to find a way to make it back to the Super Bowl. Including a fake field goal that holder (punter Jon Ryan) threw to Garry Gilliam for a 17-yard touchdown pass.
When Russell Wilson threw an interception with 5:13 left to play in the game with the Seahawks down 19-7, the game appeared over. The Seahawks' defense would not let that happen, forcing a three-and-out to keep the season alive. Wilson would lead the Seahawks on a touchdown drive which took just 1:39.
With only 2:13 left to play and one timeout left, the Seahawks lined up to kick an onside kick. Hauschka kicked a beauty of an onside kick which hit the Packers' Brandon Bostick in the helmet and was caught by the Seahawks' Chris Matthews off the deflection. Russell Wilson would lead the Seahawks down the field on another touchdown drive capped by a Marshawn Lynch TD run. Then converted a crazy two-point conversion on a pass floated to Luke Willson.
Although the Packers would tie the game at the end of regulation on a Mason Crosby field goal, the Seahawks got the ball to start overtime. Wilson would lead the Seahawks down the field again, looking to send the Seahawks to the Super Bowl for the second straight year. Wilson would connect with Jermaine Kearse on an amazing 35-yard walk-off touchdown to send Seattle back to the Super Bowl.
No. 2 - January 19, 2014: "The Tip" sends Seattle to New York
Much like the NFC Championship Game one year later, the Seahawks struggled early in their first NFC Championship Game against the 49ers. They trailed 10-3 at halftime and needed a spark in the second half. They got it with an amazing 40-yard touchdown from Marshawn Lynch.
The Niners would take a 17-13 lead into the fourth quarter. The Seahawks faced a big decision whether to kick a long field goal on fourth down or go for it. After discussing the decision during a timeout, Pete Carroll sent out the offense. Russell Wilson was able to get the Niners to jump offsides, giving the 'Hawks a free play. Wilson would take advantage of the situation, connecting with Jermaine Kearse on a 35-yard touchdown pass to put Seattle ahead.
The Seahawks led late in the fourth quarter 23-17. The Niners had the ball with 3:32 left to play. Colin Kaepernick led the Niners down the field into the red zone. With the ball at the Seahawks 18-yard line, Kaepernick lofted a pass to Michael Crabtree, which Richard Sherman tipped. The ball fell into the arms of Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith, who sealed the Seahawks win and sent Seattle to Super Bowl 48.
No. 1 - February 2, 2014: Seahawks win their first Super Bowl
The most memorable win in Pete Carroll's time in Seattle will always be winning Super Bowl 48. Bringing the first Super Bowl to Seattle is going to be what fans remember most. The game was played as close to perfect as it could have been by the Seahawks that day.
No one will forget when the ball was snapped over the head of Peyton Manning for a safety on the first play from scrimmage. The Seahawks dominated from then on, in a complete team win. The Seahawks defense picked off Manning twice, including an interception for a touchdown, by eventual Super Bowl 48 MVP Malcolm Smith.
Percy Harvin put any doubts of a Seahawks win to rest on the first play of the second half with an 87-yard kick return for a touchdown to put Seattle up 29-0. Russell Wilson threw two touchdown passes one to Doug Baldwin and another to Jermaine Kearse.
Marshawn Lynch also had a touchdown run as well. The Seahawks' defense which was the best in the NFL, forced four turnovers and held the league's best offense to just eight points. The Seahawks would win their first Super Bowl in franchise history 43-8.