Pete Carroll intended to remain in his post as head coach of the Seahawks in 2024. Efforts to convince the organization to allow that to take place were unsuccessful, though. 
Set to turn 73 in September, Carroll does not have a role of any kind in place with the Seahawks. Seattle’s power structure now has general manager John Schneider making final decisions on roster-building moves and rookie head coach Mike Macdonald positioned to take over on the sidelines. Carroll has not been in touch with Macdonald or other Seattle staffers, nor is he actively seeking out a new coaching opportunity.
“Well, you know, I get asked a lot, so I’m pretty familiar with answering that I could coach tomorrow,” the Super Bowl winner said during an interview on 93.3 KJR. “I’m physically in the best shape I’ve been in a long time. I’m ready to be ready to do all the activities that I’m doing and feeling really good about it. I could, but I’m not desiring it at this point.”
Carroll’s NFL tenure dates back to 1994, and he took over as head coach in Seattle in 2010. The tenure that followed included a pair of Super Bowl appearances and an overall winning percentage of .606. The past three seasons have not included double-digit wins, though, and the Seahawks made only one playoff appearance during that span. Macdonald will be tasked with overseeing efforts on the defensive side of the ball in particular as the team looks to return to its former successes in that capacity.
While a number of coaches who were left without a position in the 2024 coaching cycle intend to return to an NFL sideline – including, most notably, Bill Belichick – Carroll does not have his eyes on doing so in the short- or long-term future. While circumstances could change, of course, the NFL’s 15th-winnigest coaches’ comments on his situation point to the 2023 campaign being his final one in any coaching capacity.
“We’ll see what happens,” Carroll added. “I’m not waiting on [a new opportunity] at all. I’m going ahead and I got other things that I want to do that I’m excited about, and I’m going to see how all that goes… So, if it’s been 40-something years, 48 years or whatever coaching and that’s it, I feel OK about that.”
When he was one and done as Jets head coach, I definitely would not have foreseen him being a two time national champion college coach followed by a 14 year tenure as a head coach with a super bowl ring. Plus three of his former assistants are head coaches currently. That’s quite a career.
I have to admit I wasn’t much of a fan early on but Pete Carroll has a way of growing on you. A lot of guys would have let that infamous SB mistake from the 1 yard line destroy them but Pete has handled that well. He was often the last outpost for veterans trying to extend their career for a final year and I’m sure those guys, like myself, developed a lot of respect for the man.
Coaching in the NFL is a young man’s job. Despite Pete seeming to be younger than his years I would guess he can’t put in the hours that winning in the NFL requires.
Agree. The energy and patience required to coach some of these players and deal with the media is astronomical.
I think the idea that you have to dedicate every second of your time to something to be successful is a falsehood. Obviously being an NFL head coach does take a level of dedication and commitment; but there is a point of diminishing returns on time invested. Sean Mcvay spoke about this- how he isn’t working 18 hour days anymore, and how he is prioritizing sleep now.
Back in the day you had head coaches like George Allen (my all-time favorite) who was so obsessed with the job that he actually labelled the trees around the practice field..lol. Today a head coach has a bloated staff of about 20 assistants on each side of the ball so he can delegate tasks to lessen the stress somewhat.
Hang them up Pete!! It’s been a great and successful career……enjoy your retirement
Carroll has a good approach to life. When it’s done, it’s done. Move on and do something else.
Perhaps Carroll and Belichick could launch a pickleball league 🙂
Which Belichick would win by cheating.
Can Brady ask the equipment guy to deflate a pickleball? Or is it full of pickle juice. If that’s the case would we have already be playing with a “juiced” ball?
The both had great careers as head coaches. Belichick is a media personality and visibly having the time of his life now. Pete can do life coaching and executive retreats for coaches. Coach to the coaches.
Celebrate and move on.