Former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll should follow Bill Belichick’s lead

Pete Carroll wasn’t under pressure to find outside work in 2024. The Seattle Seahawks fired him, of course, in January 2024, but he didn’t have to find work right away. He was still under contract for this season, so he made about $10 million whether he was coaching or not. But next year, if Carroll wants to earn a dime, he’ll have to do it without the Seahawks.

Coincidentally, head coach/assistant general manager Bill Belichick was also let go by the New England Patriots this past offseason. Neither he nor Carroll found other employment immediately, but only Belichick appeared to be actively seeking it. He was interviewed by the Atlanta Falcons for their head coaching job, but the Falcons hired Raheem Morris instead.

Carroll, meanwhile, seemed content to hang around Seattle for a bit, as his son, Brennan, is the offensive coordinator at the University of Washington. Plus, Pete was still getting paid by the Seahawks.

Belichick has reportedly been in talks to return for coaching, though, but not in the NFL. He may be set to become the head coach at the University of North Carolina. Belichick has never coached at the college level, so one wonders how the 72-year-old will adjust to recruiting and how NIL money works.

The coach obviously had great success with the New England Patriots, but he doesn’t want a quarterback like Tom Brady working with him for the Tar Heels. Belichick still has to prove he can go from the NFL to being successful in college the way Nick Saban did. And well, Pete Carroll too.

What wouldn’t be surprising is if the 73-year-old Carroll follows Belichick’s lead and becomes a college coach again. Carroll led the USC Trojans from 2001 to 2009 and won a national championship. He has the personality and ability to connect with much younger players, and while he might not coach for the next 10 years, a college could hire him for about five.

There is probably a greater likelihood that Carroll would be more successful when he returns to the college level than Belichick. After all, Pete has already proven himself as a college coach. Belichick doesn’t have that.

What could work out perfectly is if Carroll finds a home in the ACC, possibly at Florida State if the university moves on from Mike Norvell. That would mean Carroll and Belichick would be in the same conference. Maybe Pete even hires Brennan to be his offensive coordinator, and Bill hires his son, Steve, to be his defensive coordinator, since Steve currently holds the same position at the University of Washington, working with Brennan Carroll.

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