The Las Vegas Raiders have fired head coach Pete Carroll after just one season, following a 3-14 campaign that included a 10-game losing streak. The decision was announced on Monday, marking the third consecutive season the Raiders will enter with a new head coach.
Carroll, 74, the NFL's oldest head coach, arrived with high expectations, having previously won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks and two national championships at the University of Southern California. However, his tenure in Las Vegas fell far short, with quarterback Geno Smith throwing a league-high 17 interceptions as the losses mounted. The Raiders ended the season with a 14-12 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, but it was not enough to save Carroll's job.
Owner Mark Davis stated that general manager John Spytek will work with minority owner Tom Brady to find the next head coach. 'Together, they will guide football decisions with a shared focus on leadership, culture, and alignment with the organization’s long-term vision and goals,' Davis said in a statement.
The Raiders hold the first overall pick in the upcoming draft and may seek an offensive-minded coach to develop a young quarterback, such as Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore. This approach has worked for other teams this season, including the Chicago Bears with coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams, and the Jacksonville Jaguars with coach Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence. Both teams made the playoffs after losing seasons the previous year.
Carroll's dismissal follows a pattern of instability for the Raiders, who have cycled through coaches since their Super Bowl appearance in 2002. They have made the playoffs only twice since then, losing both wild-card games. Carroll was preceded by Antonio Pierce, who was fired last year, and Josh McDaniels, who was dismissed midway through the 2023 season.
