The Las Vegas Raiders have fired head coach Pete Carroll after just one season, following a dismal 3-14 campaign that included a 10-game losing streak. The decision was announced on Monday, marking the third consecutive year the franchise will enter a new season with a different head coach.
Carroll, 74, the oldest head coach in the NFL, arrived in Las Vegas with high expectations, having previously led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory and the University of Southern California to two national championships. However, his tenure was marred by poor results, with quarterback Geno Smith throwing a league-high 17 interceptions. The Raiders ended the season with a 14-12 win over Kansas City, but it was too little, too late.
Owner Mark Davis confirmed that general manager John Spytek will work with minority owner Tom Brady to find Carroll's replacement. “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 target an offensive-minded coach to develop a young quarterback, such as Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore. This approach has proven successful elsewhere, with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams in Chicago, and Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville, both leading their teams to the playoffs after losing seasons the previous year.
However, success can also come from defensive hires, as demonstrated by New England's Mike Vrabel, who turned the Patriots from 4-13 to 14-3 and the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs alongside quarterback Drake Maye.
The Raiders have struggled to find stability since their Super Bowl appearance in 2002, making the playoffs only twice since then and losing both wild-card games. Carroll's dismissal follows the departures of Antonio Pierce last year and Josh McDaniels midway through the 2023 season.
