The Las Vegas Raiders finished with a 4-13 record during the 2024 NFL season and the Raiders decided to make another head coaching change in the offseason. Las Vegas decided to hire former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.
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Jun 11, 2025; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll looks on during Las Vegas Raiders Minicamp at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images
Carroll did not coach in the NFL in 2024 after Seattle decided to part ways with him after the 2023 NFL season. It is going to be interesting to see if Carroll will have anything left in the tank for this Raiders franchise. Las Vegas is a team that is very desperate in trying to get back to the playoffs and also win a playoff game as well. The Raiders made moves in the offseason to try and get them back into contention.
NFL Analyst Questions Whether Or Not Las Vegas Raiders Will Regret Hiring Pete Carroll As Head Coach
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Jun 10, 2025; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) and head coach Pete Carroll during Las Vegas Raiders Minicamp at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images
Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports was listing his NFL power rankings before the start of the 2025 NFL season. He has the Raiders ranked #26 on his power rankings entering the year. Despite not showing many signs of hope over the last couple of seasons, Schwab questions how Carroll is going to wind up working with the Raiders in the long run. He said,
“Pete Carroll becomes the Raiders’ 14th head coach since their last playoff win, which came Jan. 19, 2003. Even that hire was a bit of a fumble after the Raiders chased Ben Johnson even though he reportedly was always eyeing the Bears’ job. It is odd for the rebuilding Raiders to hire a coach who will turn 74 years old in September — when the season starts Carroll will break the record as the oldest head coach in NFL history — but given team owner Mark Davis’ ineptitude at picking the right coach, at least he got someone with a winning history.
The hire of Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator is fascinating as well. The Raiders made Kelly the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL at $6 million per season, according to SI. Carroll comes in with new general manager John Spytek, who had been in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ front office. Minority owner Tom Brady seems to have a say in the rebuild, though his role might be overstated, perhaps wishcasting a good story.
At least the Raiders have potential stars to build around. Crosby is one of the best defensive players in the NFL. Brock Bowers is coming off the best season for a rookie tight end in NFL history. Ashton Jeanty is one of the best running back prospects in many years, and the rebuilding Raiders thought he was worth the sixth pick of the draft. Geno Smith isn’t a star, but when the Raiders traded for him from the Seattle Seahawks they upgraded from what might have been the worst quarterback situation in the NFL.”
If Las Vegas has a bad season, there is a chance that Carroll could be a one-and-done with this franchise. This would mean that the Raiders would then have to pivot to a younger head coach for the long haul. Did Las Vegas make a mistake trying to compete now in a very difficult AFC West division or is this going to be the right move for them?
Time will tell when the season begins. The Raiders improved at quarterback, and they also improved in the backfield as well. The Denver Broncos, the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Kansas City Chiefs all made it to the playoffs in the AFC during the 2024 NFL season. Maybe Las Vegas goes from worst to first in the AFC West in 2025, but that would maybe come as the biggest shock in the league.
If the Raiders were to win a playoff game in the 2025 season, it would be a step in the right direction for this franchise. However, Las Vegas is more likely to be drafting in the Top 10 once again during the 2026 NFL Draft rather than winning a playoff game this season.
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