After several seasons of the Seattle Seahawks contending for a Super Bowl in the mid-2010s, things began to go south. The team was still good, but no longer great. Many veterans complained that head coach Pete Carroll's message got stale. Cornerback Richard Sherman was one of them.
Sherman left the team after seven seasons when he was released after the 2017 season. He spent four more years in the league. After he retired, he was seen helping at Seahawks training camp. Whatever issues Sherman might have had with Carroll as a player were not as great as the respect Sherman had for Carroll as a person.
Now, of course, neither Sherman nor Carroll is part of the Seahawks organization. The cornerback still lives in the Seattle area, while Carroll is the new head coach with the Las Vegas Raiders. But Sherman recently gave voice to what many 12s will always think of Carroll.
Richard Sherman has the exact right words about former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll
Sherman shared a clip of Carroll talking to what appears to be high school students about the differences in coaching styles between Bill Belichick, Greg Popovich, and others. Besides giving a short but precise breakdown of approaches to coaching, Carroll delivers his personal philosophy.
Not just as a coach, but life. This is a sentiment that likely echoes with many of Carroll's former players and how they saw him as a human being.
Pete Carroll is an eternally positive person, so much so that some can tire of his outlook. The head coach is genuine, however. No one can espouse their views for so long and so consistently that they are fundamentally false. Carroll believes in what he says, and he believes in each individual person.
While reposting the clip, Sherman said, "This is it! Why he is loved as a coach why he was able to get the most out of unique group of great talented men. Celebrates the unique qualities and abilities of each person. Great coach!"
This is it! Why he is loved as a coach why he was able to get the most out of unique group of great talented men. Celebrates the unique qualities and abilities of each person. Great coach! https://t.co/mOsaQhSpsu
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) August 2, 2025
Also, a great human being. Pete Carroll doesn't treat players any differently than he does people who have no connection to football. We could all learn a bit about how Carroll handles himself around others.
For this reason, many Seattle Seahawks fans might not outwardly be pulling for the Las Vegas Raiders to do well, but 12s might be hoping that Vegas does somewhat well because of Pete Carroll. Geno Smith and other former Seahawks are there, too, sure, but Carroll is the reason fans care in any way about the Raiders.