For the first time in 14 seasons, the Seahawks will have a new man wearing the headset on the sidelines as the Pete Carroll era is over in Seattle. Carroll leaves with the most wins in franchise history and helped build a culture of competition while also allowing players to be themselves.
During his time with the team, he was able to draft and develop Hall of Fame-level players such as Bobby Wagner, Richard Sherman, and many others. Besides just bringing in these players, Carroll's teams also gave us many lasting memories and moments. The Pete Carroll era will be remembered extremely fondly. One day down the line, hopefully, Pete Carroll will get his own spot in Canton.
As I reflected on Carroll’s time with the Seahawks it got me thinking of many of my favorite memories and moments. There were the five that came to my mind that rose above the rest. While countless moments in Carroll’s tenure were significant, the five on this list hold a special place, each for different reasons. So while we say goodbye on this chapter of Seahawks football, let us thank Pete Carroll for all he was able to bring us 12s and the memories we will have forever.
An honorable mention would be the 2015 NFC Championship game when the Packers played the Seahawks. The game was a roller coaster where it took every last ounce of effort and tricks to pull out a win. This included a fake field goal for a touchdown that gave the Seahawks life, a miraculous onside kick, and a walk-off touchdown to Jermaine Kearse. Seattle would go to back-to-back Super Bowls, but unfortunately, we all know what happened two weeks later in a heartbreaking loss to the Patriots. Luckily for us, there were many more enjoyable moments, and here are my top five.
5. Seahawks make a statement on MNF
It seems like every season there are regular season matchups that just feel bigger than other games. Whether that be a Super Bowl rematch, a game with playoff implications, or rivalry games, these matchups seem to provide a different tone to a regular season game. Late in the 2013 season, it was a Monday night matchup between two teams sitting at the top of the NFC pushing for the 1 seed. The New Orleans Saints traveled to Seattle to take on the Seahawks in a game that looked like a contest that could decide who was going to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Early in the first quarter defensive lineman Cliff Avril stripped Drew Brees and Michael Bennett ran the fumble back for a touchdown to put Seattle up early 10-0. Another touchdown drive by the Seahawks had them up 17-0 after the first quarter and it was never close again. Seattle imposed its will against the Saints and proved that they were the team to beat in the NFC. The two teams would meet in the divisional round of the playoffs later on in the season with the Seahawks once again beating the Saints and moving onto the NFC title game for the first time since 2006.
4. When the LOB announced they were here
In 2012 the Seahawks were coming off another 7-9 season which did not translate into a playoff berth. They had just signed free agent quarterback Matt Flynn to a 3-year $20 million dollar contract and he was expected to be the starter until 3rd round draft pick Russell Wilson won the job in training camp and proved Carroll’s “Always Compete” philosophy to be true. They also were beginning to form a legendary defense with rookie 2nd rounder Bobby Wagner, second-year players like Richard Sherman, and KJ Wright along with safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.
It was the early formations of what would become the LOB, but one game in particular let the world know that these young guys were ballers. Early in the season, the Seahawks were sitting at 3-2 with a tough opponent in the New England Patriots. The Patriots were coming off a season in which they had lost the Super Bowl and were favorites to represent again.
The young Seahawks defense wanted to make a statement and they did. Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman picked off Tom Brady and Russell Wilson hit Sidney Rice for the game-winning touchdown. After the game Richard Sherman let Brady know exactly who he was.
The Seahawks would go on to beat the Redskins in the Wild Card round and lose on a walk-off field goal in Atlanta. This was the game, though, where you knew the LOB would be a force to get used to.
3. The Beast Quake
Pete Carroll’s first season with the Seahawks came in 2010 and the team finished with a 7-9 record. Normally, that would have you on the outside looking in on the playoffs, but that season the NFC West was horrible and so the Seahawks won the division and hosted the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.
Most of the experts and fans did not give the Seahawks a chance in that game. As it turns out, the Seahawks not only had a chance in that game but they pulled off one of the best upsets in playoff history. The game was capped off by the Beast Quake, a run by Marshawn Lynch that registered on a nearby seismograph. The game was just a glimpse into what the future had in store for Pete Carroll and the Seahawks.
2. Seahawks dominate en route to first Super Bowl
For only the second time in their franchise history, the Seahawks were in the Super Bowl. Their opponent was the record-breaking Denver Broncos offense led by MVP Peyton Manning. The big question was could Seattle’s defense slow down the Broncos? Right away the Seahawks showed that Denver was no match for the Seahawks. The first snap of the game the Broncos snapped the ball over Manning’s head for a safety.
Late in the first Kam Chancellor intercepted Peyton Manning which led to a Seahawks touchdown and a 15-0 lead. As the first half was winding down, Peyton Manning was picked off once again. This time it was a pick-six by Malcolm Smith. Smith also recovered a fumble and would go on to be the Super Bowl MVP.
On the opening kickoff of the second half, Percy Harvin took the kickoff 87 yards for the touchdown and it was 29-0. Seattle would add on some more and win 43-8 capturing their first Super Bowl and cementing themselves as one of the best teams ever. It was a game and a moment I’ll never forget.
1. The Tip
This was one of the most highly anticipated championship games. The San Francisco 49ers headed to Seattle to take on the Seahawks with the winner moving on to the Super Bowl. Both teams had a defense that was championship-worthy, a young dual-threat QB to lead their franchises, and head coaches that had a rivalry thanks to their history at the collegiate level.
It was high intensity and high drama. As someone who was a Seahawks fan living in California surrounded by friends who were 49ers fans, there was no sweeter victory than when Richard Sherman made the play of a lifetime by deflecting a Colin Kaepernick throw that was intended for wide receiver Michael Crabtree into the waiting arms of Malcolm Smith and sending the Seahawks to the second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Following the game, Sherman gave one of the most quoted postgame interviews where he bashed Crabtree.
Both teams had the feeling that the winner of this game was going to go on and win the Super Bowl. Two weeks later the Seahawks hoisted up the Lombardi Trophy. it was the height of an intense rivalry that has gone back and forth with each side dominating the matchup. Let's hope soon we get back to the level of this matchup sooner rather than later.