Outgoing Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll breaks down in TEARS as he pays tribute to his wife Glena at final press conference following shock departure: ‘She’s just been the angel of my life’

Pete Carroll broke down in tears during his final Seattle Seahawks news conference as he paid tribute to his wife Glena and their children for their support during his 13-year reign in the Northwest following the announcement of his shock departure.

Earlier on Wednesday, it was announced that the 72-year-old Carroll would leave the team’s head coaching position after 14 seasons at the helm and move into an advisory role with the organization.

Carroll’s tenure as head coach ends with a 137-89-1 record, a first Super Bowl victory for the franchise in 2013 and 10 postseason appearances. He went 10-9 overall in the playoffs.

“It has been an honor and a thrill to be part of this program,” Carroll told reporters and players in attendance on Wednesday. ‘I loved every minute of it and you saw how I loved it.

“This is worth crying over,” he added later. “Glena, no one would ever understand how important (you are). She’s been through everything we’ve been through and how important she is… She’s just been the angel of my life.

Carroll then thanked his sons, Brennan and Nathan, who were part of the Seahawks’ coaching staff in recent years, saying, “They would be the ones giving me all the bullshit about what I did wrong, what I was screwing up .

“They were harsh and their criticism was hasty and the whole thing… it was perfect,” he went on to say. ‘Because they needed that loyalty and for me they were the epitome of that. And so I will be forever grateful. They know.

“But I don’t mind telling you, because it’s hard to be so deeply loyal. It’s hard to tell people what they don’t want to hear and what they need to hear. And it’s rare for people around you to do that, especially when you get these types of positions. And it is so necessary to get it right and do the right thing.

Seahawks owner Jody Allen said Carroll’s departure from the team’s head coaching role was “amicable” and “in the best interest of the franchise.”

For his part, Carroll said Wednesday that he plans to be with the team in a capacity that is still developing, including helping with the search for his successor.

Reports indicate that Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who held the same position with the Seahawks under Carroll before becoming head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, is one of the names at the top of Carroll and general manager John Schneider’s list of candidates.

Allen’s statement praised Carroll.

“Pete is the winningest coach in Seahawks history, brought the city its first Super Bowl title and has created a tremendous impact on the field and in the community over the past fourteen years,” Allen’s statement read. “His expertise in leadership and building a champion culture will remain an integral part of our organization going forward.”

Carroll, 72, is 170-120-1 overall in 18 years as head coach of the New York Jets (1994), New England Patriots (1997-99) and Seahawks. “It was always about fun, really,” he said.