Washington Commanders HC Dan Quinn couldn’t hold in his excitement for Pete Carroll as he was announced as the new head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders today.
“That fires me up. That makes me happy,” said Quinn about Carroll’s new position.
These two NFL head coaches will meet some time next season when the Commanders host the Raiders, and Quinn will certainly have this game circled as he would love to take down an old friend. With Carroll predictably feeling the same way, it should make for a great game and one to watch out for next season.
Dan Quinn’s Time Working for Pete Carroll
Quinn made his major coaching breakthrough as the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks in 2013 and 2014, when Carroll was the head coach. Quinn’s defense was led by the legendary Legion of Boom secondary, highlighted by Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas III, and Brandon Browner.
The coaching duo reached the Super Bowl in their two years together, dismantling the Denver Broncos in 2013 and falling short to the New England Patriots a year later on the legendary goal-line interception by Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler. In 2015, Quinn left to become the Atlanta Falcons head coach.
Quinn and Carroll have had their fair share of great moments together, but each is searching for that Super Bowl feeling once again. The former had a shot but fell short after the Patriots famously erased a 28-3 deficit against the Falcons in Super Bowl 51 to win in overtime.
Although Quinn is greatly excited for his friend’s news, he has more important issues on his hands right now. He has another chance at a Super Bowl after a phenomenal year from rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels that has led Washington to battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
Carroll and the Raiders
After one year away from coaching, Carroll has found himself in a position to lead a franchise yet again. He hasn’t had that championship feeling since Seattle’s back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, but he hopes this job can lead him to success.
It’s going to take a lot of work, though.
The Raiders are coming off a very rough 4-13 season. Yet, he should probably lean on Quinn for how to turn around a franchise since the Commanders’ HC completely changed the team’s trajectory in just one season.
Carroll’s 40-year résumé speaks for itself, and he has developed two great current head coaches under his wing. In addition to Quinn, Dave Canales of the Carolina Panthers also spent time under Carroll’s leadership.
The Raiders are getting an experienced coach with an eye for finding other coaching talent. Now, he must find someone like Quinn to build a staff to compete in a loaded division — one that saw all other teams reach the postseason this season.
Carroll will be the oldest head coach next year and likely only has a few years left on the sidelines. Thus, he must maximize every year he has in Las Vegas.
