The Raiders’ Bold Past and the Search for Stability
Before moving to Las Vegas, the Raiders were known for being a risky, high-stakes team. Their former owner, Al Davis, often said, “Just win, baby.” But during his later years, and after his son Mark took over following Al’s death in 2011, this approach didn’t always lead to the best results.
The Raiders were known for quickly changing cities, coaches, and quarterbacks. They made bold decisions, like picking JaMarcus Russell as the No. 1 overall pick and hiring Lane Kiffin as a 31-year-old head coach. They took chances on big-name free agents and untested coaches. Unfortunately, these moves didn’t work out, and the Raiders have not won a playoff game in the past 22 seasons.
Pete Carroll: A Steady Choice for the Raiders
Now, facing the task of hiring a new coach, the Raiders made a more cautious decision, possibly influenced by minority owner Tom Brady. They announced that they had hired Pete Carroll, the 73-year-old former Super Bowl-winning coach of the Seattle Seahawks.
Carroll is a known and reliable coach, and his hiring came with few surprises. While his age may limit his potential for the long-term, he could still help the Raiders become competitive again.
Carroll is a well-respected coach, having spent 18 seasons with three teams: the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Seattle Seahawks. He had only four losing seasons and finished with a 170-120 career record. Carroll also reached two Super Bowls, winning one with Seattle in 2013.
His hiring is seen as a safe bet for the Raiders, who wanted to bring in an experienced coach to help guide the team back to success. Hiring a football coach is always uncertain, but Carroll is one of the most reliable choices available.
In Seattle, Carroll led the Seahawks to the playoffs 10 times over 14 seasons. He won more than 60 percent of his games and built a strong team culture.
The Raiders likely hired Carroll because they wanted to get serious about competing, especially in the tough AFC West, where teams like Kansas City, Denver, and the Los Angeles Chargers are led by experienced coaches.
The division is full of strong teams, and without a solid roster, even the best young coach might struggle.
While it’s uncertain how Carroll will perform in his 70s, he still has a lot of energy. His positive attitude and passion, which he showed when coaching the Jets, Patriots, and USC, are still very much present.
The Raiders did not expect to hire a coach who will lead them for the next 15 years, but they chose someone who can quickly start improving the team. Carroll is focused on winning now, and he might even bring his former Seattle quarterback, Russell Wilson, to Las Vegas if their relationship improves. If not, he will continue building a strong team culture.
Carroll has always been known for his fun yet competitive coaching style. His drive to create competition within his team helped build Seattle’s legendary defense, known as the “Legion of Boom.” Fans can expect more of that with the Raiders.
This hiring is a smart, stable move for a team that has often taken risks in the past. It’s a sensible decision, and it may turn out to be a great one for the Raiders in the long run.
