Colin Cowherd isn’t buying the “Pete Carroll is too old” argument. At 73, Carroll’s coaching for the Las Vegas Raiders, and some critics think he’s past his prime. Cowherd, though, is laughing that off.
In his eyes, Carroll’s energy, experience, and proven track record matter way more than his birth certificate.
Colin Cowherd Shuts Down Pete Carroll’s Age Debate
Cowherd isn’t here for the debate around Carroll’s age. While some think 73 is too old for the Raiders’ head coaching gig, Cowherd completely disagrees — “I do not worry about Pete Carroll’s age and vitality. I think he looks fantastic for his age.”
His reasoning is pretty simple: Carroll isn’t just some retired legend. In his last two years with the Seattle Seahawks, he had back-to-back winning seasons in a division featuring Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers and Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams (two of the NFL’s sharpest minds).
"Brian Schottenheimer feels absolutely uninspiring. It's a D."@ColinCowherd grades new NFL head coach hires: pic.twitter.com/BKQe2sn3DQ
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) January 28, 2025
Cowherd also believes the Raiders need a true leader. “To me, they need an adult in the room. His last two years in Seattle, they had a winning record in the division with Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, like they were still winning football games.”
After years of instability, the Raiders need a steady hand — few bring more experience (or energy) than Carroll.
Carroll still radiates enthusiasm, and his players love him. He built a dynasty at USC, turned the Seahawks into Super Bowl champs, and kept them competitive even after Russell Wilson’s departure.
For the Raiders, hiring Carroll would be about winning now, not just rebuilding. And while some might hesitate at his age, Cowherd’s message is clear: If Carroll can still win, what’s the problem?
Carroll Brings the Hype, Tom Brady’s Helping Shape the Raiders’ Future
Carroll’s bringing that signature energy to the Raiders. At 73, he’s still wired for football, making one thing clear in his Raiders intro: “Obviously, I’m freaking jacked up.”
His mission is to fix the quarterback spot. And he’s got a big name in his corner, Tom Brady. The GOAT, now a minority owner in Vegas, will have a say in how this all shakes out.
Carroll’s done this before. In Seattle, he rolled the dice on a third-round rookie (Russell Wilson) over a big-money free agent, and it paid off — one Super Bowl, two NFC titles, and a decade of winning. Now, he’s looking for that next guy.
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Vegas has options. Aidan O’Connell had his moments, but Carroll isn’t one to settle. Draft? Trade? Free agency? Everything’s on the table.
Carroll isn’t just here for a paycheck; he’s here to compete. “You freaking battle every day,” he said. And if he finds the right QB, the Raiders might finally have something to get jacked up about.