Seattle After winning Super Bowl XLVIII and coming close to repeating the following season, the Seahawks have made a number of significant moves during the last nine seasons in an effort to regain their position at the top of the NFL. They have signed high-profile free agents and pulled off spectacular moves. They have frequently switched up the coordinators on both sides of the ball and made personnel and scheme changes to their defense. Russell Wilson was a franchise quarterback, but they have moved on.
They took the most significant action possible on Wednesday when they declared Pete Carroll’s departure as head coach following a 14-season stint that was the most successful in team history. As the Seahawks prepare for the summer, these are five questions about the relocation and their future plans.
Why did this happen now? Was it completely unexpected?
In Carroll’s news conference after the announcement, he said, “I competed pretty hard to be the coach … I went along with their intentions.” This came after he said postgame Sunday and again Monday that he planned to continue coaching the Seahawks, all of which makes it clear that this decision was made by owner Jody Allen and not Carroll
Allen’s statement gave only a vague reasoning, saying the move was in the best interest of the organization, but it’s been obvious that the Seahawks have settled into a rut of mediocrity.
Since winning the Super Bowl at the end of the 2013 season and nearly repeating as champions the next season, the Seahawks have made the playoffs six times but have failed to advance past the divisional round. Carroll said on his radio show earlier this week that the Seahawks are closer to winning a Super Bowl now than they were a year ago, when they also finished 9-8. But there was no obvious indication of that vision. Seattle’s defense regressed, and its offense underperformed. Over the past three seasons, the Seahawks are 25-27, including a wild-card loss that ended their lone playoff appearance in that stretch.
What does Carroll’s future look like now?
In a word, uncertain. Allen said in her statement that Carroll will remain with the team as an advisor, though Carroll said the particulars of that role are yet to be determined. The absence of any detail as well as Carroll’s obvious desire to remain Seattle’s coach contributes to the impression that the Seahawks may be giving him the title of advisor in order to give the best coach in franchise history as dignified of an exit as possible.
Carroll has looked as energetic as ever at 72, showing no signs in recent seasons that his passion for coaching has waned. During one of the more spirited moments of his news conference, he said he’s “freakin’ jacked” and not worn out or tired. That makes it fair to wonder whether he would have interest in coaching another team if the right opportunity arose.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” he said when asked about that possibility. “Today’s about today. I don’t know that.”
Should Carroll stay put, one thing about his advisor role was made clear Wednesday: it won’t entail him assisting general manager John Schneider in the search for his replacement.
Carroll helped hire Schneider in 2010 and had final say over personnel decisions. Schneider is now in the power position in Seattle’s front office.
Who could be in the mix to be the next Seattle coach?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will be among those on the Seahawks’ list of candidates. Quinn has been an obvious possibility in recent seasons while questions about Carroll’s coaching future have grown. He has a relationship with Schneider, having had two stints on the Seahawks’ coaching staff, including 2009-10 (defensive line coach) and 2013-14 (defensive coordinator). He was the coordinator during their two Super Bowl appearances, overseeing one of the most dominant units in NFL history.
The steady decline of Seattle’s defense since then is the biggest reason the team is now searching for a new coach. The Seahawks were 25th in points allowed in 2023 and 30th in yards allowed.
What’s the first priority for whoever takes over as coach?
Deciding whether to keep offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt will be first up. Their job statuses have seemed uncertain, given the way Seattle has underachieved on both sides of the ball this season.
