It was shortly before 2 p.m. Central on Wednesday when word broke that Pete Carroll’s 14-year tenure as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks has ended. The move was surprising, perhaps, given the unchallengeable fact that Carroll has been the best, most glamorous and most successful coach in franchise history. But the change was not completely shocking given the team’s collapse down the stretch of the 2023 season. The Seahawks underachieved with a roster that should have produced better than a 9-8 record and no postseason berth for the second time in three years. That’s how coaches lose their jobs. Even glitzy, high-energy and long-tenured coaches like Pete Carroll.
For the moment, neither Carroll nor the Seahawks appear to want to be the first to say goodbye, mutually announcing that P.C. will continue to serve the club in an undefined “advisory” role. I’ll take that bet. The 72-year-old Carroll is pissed, hurt and hell-bent on proving he can still coach. For what it’s worth, I think he can still coach, and very effectively. Those embers are still glowing, and they could spark in say, Los Angeles (Chargers?) or Atlanta. Pete Carroll would not have any trouble figuring out how to use Bijan Robinson. I promise.
The Carroll saga was big news. But neither I nor anyone else know at the moment that Pete would prove to be no higher than the bronze medalist in the 24-hour coaching news cycle.
Saban? SABAN?
And now as I type prior to Thursday’s sunrise, Belichick. BELICHICK!
It’s easy to say now that we’re not shocked by Saban’s retirement or the end of the Hoodie’s road in New England. Saban had checked every box in establishing himself as the greatest coach in college football history. And we saw at least a public change in the man this year. We didn’t get all the way to soft-and-gentle or warm-and-fuzzy. But we frequently saw a side of Saban seldom visible in his previous 16 seasons at Alabama, and before that at LSU. So there were hints.
And the parting of the ways between Belichick and Pat’s owner Robert Kraft had been telegraphed for the past two seasons. It would have been more shocking if the two had somehow decided to extend the broken marriage for at least another year. This could not go on.
Still, that’s Bill Effing Belichick. And he’s looking for work after winning six Super Bowls.
Will it go ‘round in circles? It will. Vrabel to the Pats. Quinn to the Seahawks. Carroll could do big things with Justin Herbert and The Bolts.
As for ‘Bama? The Tide will get their pick. But their pick will not be as good as his predecessor. Nobody is.
