The Las Vegas Raiders made headlines earlier this offseason when they fired head coach Antonio Pierce after just one full season, igniting a coaching search led partly by legendary quarterback Tom Brady.
The Raiders have their new man, Pete Carroll, who will reportedly join the team on a three-year contract. At 73 years old, he will be the oldest head coach in NFL history once he officially signs his contract with Las Vegas.
NFL Fans React to Pete Carroll’s Decision To Join the Raiders
ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report the news, which incited an avalanche of reactions from NFL fans.
Just in: Pete Carroll and the Raiders now have reached agreement on a three-year deal with a fourth-year team option, sources tell ESPN.
Another veteran legendary coach has returned. pic.twitter.com/Jc2J0EPo7N
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 24, 2025
Most Raiders fans were happy to see that the team chose to target a head coach with a proven history of winning, with one going so far as to call it the “best hire of the coaching cycle.”
Best Hire of the Coaching Cycle. Pete will bring that Raider edge back to Oakland
— Brett Hoffman (@BrettHoffmanjr) January 24, 2025
Some fans were quick to remember that Brady and Carroll have history, namely from their clash in Super Bowl 49, when the Seattle Seahawks infamously chose to pass the ball from the 2-yard line instead of running with Marshawn Lynch.
Perhaps there was a handshake agreement in place over one decade ago?
Sources are telling me that Raiders minority owner Tom Brady has long been a fan of Carroll's play-calling. https://t.co/O211uBqqEO pic.twitter.com/yPMCvdwFKi
— Christopher J. Scalia (@cjscalia) January 24, 2025
The Raiders are obviously in search of a franchise quarterback, though they may struggle to find one in this year’s draft while armed with the No. 6 overall pick. Carroll, who starred as a quarterback in high school, could pull double-duty in Las Vegas.
Raiders new Head Coach and QB pic.twitter.com/CT7BMoGN4o
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) January 24, 2025
Other fans pointed out that Carroll will now be coaching in the same division as Jim Harbaugh again, after the two did battle in the NFC West from 2011-14, as well as when the two coached at USC and Stanford, respectively.
Of course, the other coaches in the division are no slouches either, with Andy Reid leading the dynastic Kansas City Chiefs and Sean Payton helming the upstart Denver Broncos.
The 2025 AFC West should be a coaching masterclass.
While Carroll is a beloved figure in the sport, not all Raiders fans were thrilled with the news, with some especially worried about Carroll’s status as the oldest head coach in the sport.
Naturally, some less optimistic Raiders fans also pointed out that, given the team’s recent history with head coaches, perhaps Carroll was just looking for a quick payday.
Pete Carroll thinking about the buyout he will get from the Raiders when they have to fire him in two years pic.twitter.com/3LpgPLmG1h
— Armel (@Armelgeddon) January 24, 2025
Regardless, the main takeaway has been that the Raiders have finally shifted their culture in a meaningful way after wandering around aimlessly for countless years.
Carroll has 18 years of professional head coaching experience under his belt, plus another nine as USC’s leading man. He racked up a 170-120-1 record in the NFL, including back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 2013 and 2014, including winning Super Bowl 48 over the Denver Broncos.
The Raiders, meanwhile, have made the playoffs just once since 2017, and they haven’t won a postseason game since 2002, when they lost the Super Bowl to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team hasn’t captured a Lombardi Trophy in over 40 years.
Expectations will be immediately high for Carroll as he attempts to turn around the moribund franchise, especially since his contract is only for a maximum of four seasons. The Raiders have a long way to go to compete with the elites in the AFC, but hiring a proven winner like Carroll was a good first step in that direction.
