Pete Carroll removed as Seahawks coach and switched to advisory role

Pete Carroll, the head coach who led the Seattle Seahawks to their only Super Bowl title, has been removed from his position and will serve as a team advisor.

The Seahawks announced this on Wednesday.

“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,” said Seahawks owner Jody Allen. “His expertise in leadership and building a champion culture will remain an integral part of our organization going forward.”

Allen said the move came after “thoughtful meetings and careful consideration of the best interests of the franchise.”

On Monday, after the Seahawks narrowly missed the playoffs, Carroll said he wanted to return as head coach next season. He was under contract until the end of the 2025 season.

“I plan on coaching this team,” Carroll told Seattle Sports 710 AM. “I told you I love these guys, and that’s what I’d like to do and see how far I can go. I’m not exhausted. I am not tired. I’m not one of those things. I have to do my job better and I have to help my coaches more and we have to do the coaching work better, and there is a lot of room for improvement.

ESPN reported this on Wednesday that Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is one of Seattle’s targets to succeed Carroll. Quinn was Carroll’s defensive coordinator during the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

The 72-year-old, who until Wednesday was the oldest active head coach in the NFL, had been in charge of the Seahawks since 2010. Powered by the team’s famed Legion of Boom defense, Seattle was one of the dominant franchises of the early years. They also reached the playoffs in 10 of Carroll’s 14 seasons in charge, although some believe they should have won more than one Super Bowl with their strong defense and quarterback Russell Wilson. in its heyday. Carroll received particularly strong criticism for his decision to pass the ball on the goal line in the final moments of Super Bowl XLIX instead of handing the ball to All Pro running back Marshawn Lynch. Wilson was then intercepted and the New England Patriots won the title.

Carroll also had stints as head coach of the Patriots and New York Jets. He had a successful college football career at USC, with whom he won six conference titles and a national title.

Carroll is one of only three head coaches to win a Super Bowl and a college football national championship, joining Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson.