Pete Carroll facts for kids
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Carroll with the Seattle Seahawks in 2021
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| Las Vegas Raiders | |
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| Position: | Head coach |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | September 15, 1951 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Redwood (Larkspur, California) |
| College: |
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| Career history | |
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| As executive: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | 170–120–1 (.586) |
| Postseason: | 11–11 (.500) |
| Career: | NCAA: 97–19 (.836) NFL: 181–131–1 (.580) |
| Coaching stats at PFR | |
Peter Clay Carroll (born September 15, 1951) is a famous American football coach. He is currently the head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders in the National Football League (NFL). Before this, he coached the USC Trojans college team from 2001 to 2009. He also led NFL teams like the New York Jets (1994), New England Patriots (1997–1999), and the Seattle Seahawks (2010–2023).
Pete Carroll is one of only three head coaches to win both a college football national championship and a Super Bowl. The other two are Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer.
When he first coached in the NFL, he didn't have much success with the Jets and Patriots in the 1990s. He then moved to college football and helped the USC Trojans become a top team. They won seven conference championships and an AP national championship.
Carroll's success in college led him back to the NFL in 2010 with the Seattle Seahawks. During his 14 seasons there, the Seahawks made the playoffs 10 times and won their division five times. They played in two Super Bowls in a row and won their first championship in Super Bowl XLVIII. His team's defense, known as the "Legion of Boom", was the best in the league for four years. In 2018, he became the Seahawks' coach with the most wins. After the 2023 season, Carroll became an advisor for the Seahawks for a year. In 2025, he became the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
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Growing Up and College Football
Pete Carroll was born in San Francisco, California, on September 15, 1951. He grew up in Greenbrae, California. He went to Redwood High School in Larkspur, California.
In high school, he was a great athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball. He was named the school's Athlete of the Year in 1969. He was later honored in the Redwood High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
After high school, Carroll played football for two years at College of Marin, a junior college. He then moved to the University of the Pacific. There, he played free safety for two years and was recognized as an All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association player. He graduated in 1973 with a degree in Business Administration.
Starting His Coaching Journey
Pete Carroll's positive attitude impressed his college coach, Chester Caddas. When Carroll showed interest in coaching, Caddas offered him a job as a graduate assistant at Pacific. Carroll worked with wide receivers and defensive players. He also earned a master's degree in physical education.
After Pacific, Carroll became a graduate assistant at the University of Arkansas in 1977. He worked with the secondary defense. The Arkansas team won the 1978 Orange Bowl that season.
He then coached the secondary at Iowa State University and Ohio State University. In 1980, he became the defensive coordinator and secondary coach for North Carolina State University. In 1983, he returned to Pacific as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.
Coaching in the NFL (1984–1999)
In 1984, Carroll joined the NFL as the defensive backs coach for the Buffalo Bills. The next year, he moved to the Minnesota Vikings, where he coached defensive backs until 1989.
In 1994, Carroll became the head coach of the New York Jets. He was known for his energy. The Jets started well but lost their last games, finishing 6–10. He was fired after one season.
He then worked as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers for two seasons (1995–1996). His success there led him to become the head coach of the New England Patriots in 1997. His 1997 Patriots team won their division. However, his teams in 1998 and 1999 didn't do as well, and he was fired after the 1999 season. His total NFL record as a head coach at that time was 33 wins and 31 losses.
After leaving the Patriots, Carroll spent 2000 as a consultant for football teams and wrote for CNNSI.com.
Leading the USC Trojans (2000–2009)
Pete Carroll became the head coach for the USC Trojans on December 15, 2000. Many people were unsure about this choice because of his past NFL record and because he hadn't coached college football in a long time.
Building a Winning Team
Carroll's first USC team started with 2 wins and 5 losses in 2001. But after that slow start, his teams won 67 out of their next 74 games. They won two national championships and played for another.
Carroll was known for being great at recruiting new players. He was one of the first college coaches to use social media like Facebook and Twitter to connect with young players. His son, Brennan Carroll, helped with recruiting.
His team won 34 games in a row from 2003 to 2005. This streak ended in the national championship game against the Texas Longhorns in the 2006 Rose Bowl. During his time, USC also had a 35-game winning streak at their home stadium, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This streak lasted for 6 years, from 2001 to 2007.
Carroll was often asked about coaching jobs in the NFL, but he said he was happy at USC. He enjoyed the Southern California lifestyle and the ability to recruit players, which he couldn't do in the NFL.
On January 11, 2010, Carroll announced he was leaving USC to coach the Seattle Seahawks. He signed a 5-year, $33 million contract.
USC Achievements
Under Pete Carroll, USC football became very successful again. Here are some of their achievements:
- They played in two BCS Championship Games, winning one in 2005.
- They won the Associated Press National Championship in 2003 and 2004.
- They finished in the top 4 of the Associated Press rankings for seven years in a row.
- They won six BCS bowl games.
- They were ranked as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press poll for a record 33 weeks in a row.
- Their overall winning record was 97 wins and 19 losses (83.6%).
- They had a great record against rivals Notre Dame and UCLA, winning 14 games and losing only 2.
- Twenty-five players from his teams were named 1st team All-Americans.
- 53 USC players were chosen in the NFL draft, with 14 in the first round.
- Three players won the Heisman Trophy: Carson Palmer (2002), Matt Leinart (2004), and Reggie Bush (2005).
- His teams had a 34-game winning streak from 2003–2004.
In 2007, ESPN.com said that Carroll's impact on college football was one of the biggest developments of the past decade. In 2014, Carroll was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame.
NCAA Issues
In 2010, the NCAA announced penalties against the USC football program. This included a two-year ban from bowl games and losing some wins from the 2004 and 2005 seasons. These penalties were related to former player Reggie Bush receiving improper gifts. Carroll said that the NCAA issues were not why he left USC for the Seahawks.
Seattle Seahawks (2010–2024)
After the Seattle Seahawks fired their coach in 2009, Pete Carroll was hired as their new head coach on January 11, 2010. He also became the executive vice president of football operations, meaning he had a lot of say in how the team was run.
First Seasons (2010–2012)
In his first season (2010), Carroll changed almost the entire Seahawks team. They started 4–2 and, even with a 7–9 record, won their division. They then surprised everyone by beating the defending Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints, in the playoffs. This game featured Marshawn Lynch's famous "Beast Quake" run. They lost the next game to the Chicago Bears.
In 2011, the Seahawks again finished 7–9 and didn't make the playoffs. In 2012, with rookie quarterback Russell Wilson, Carroll led the team to an 11–5 record and their first winning season under him. They won their first playoff game against the Washington Redskins but lost to the Atlanta Falcons the following week.
Super Bowl Champions (2013)
The 2013 season was amazing for the Seahawks. They finished with a 13–3 record, the best in the NFC. They beat the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs. In the NFC Championship Game, cornerback Richard Sherman made a key play, tipping a pass that led to an interception, securing a 23–17 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
On February 2, 2014, Carroll led the Seattle Seahawks to their first Super Bowl win in team history. They defeated the Denver Broncos, 43–8, in Super Bowl XLVIII. Carroll became one of only three coaches to win both a college championship and a Super Bowl.
Another NFC Championship (2014)
In 2014, the Seahawks tried to win another Super Bowl. They started strong, beating the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos again. After a tough stretch, they finished the regular season with a 12–4 record. As the top team in the playoffs, they beat the Carolina Panthers. In the NFC Championship, they made an incredible comeback against the Green Bay Packers, winning in overtime to reach their second straight Super Bowl.
On February 1, 2015, Carroll's Seahawks lost Super Bowl XLIX to his former team, the New England Patriots, 28–24. The game ended with a controversial play call where the Seahawks threw a pass instead of running the ball near the goal line, which was intercepted.
Later Seasons with Seahawks (2015–2023)
The 2015 season started with some close losses for the Seahawks. But Carroll helped his team win five games in a row to make the playoffs. They won their first playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings but lost to the Carolina Panthers in the next round.
In 2016, Carroll signed a new contract. The Seahawks won their division and made the playoffs again, beating the Detroit Lions at home. However, they lost to the Atlanta Falcons in the next round. In 2017, the team finished 9–7 and missed the playoffs.
In 2018, Carroll led the Seahawks to a 10–6 record and a playoff spot. He also became the Seahawks' all-time wins leader. They lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round. In 2019, the Seahawks finished 11–5 and won their Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles before losing to the Green Bay Packers.
In 2020, Carroll and the Seahawks agreed to a new contract. They finished the season with a 12–4 record and won their division, but lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round.
The 2021 season was a tough one, with the Seahawks finishing with a losing record for the first time since 2011. In 2022, quarterback Russell Wilson was traded. Carroll named Geno Smith the new starter, and the team finished 9–8, making the playoffs. They lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card Round. In 2023, the Seahawks again finished 9–8 but missed the playoffs.
On January 10, 2024, Carroll and the Seahawks decided that he would step down as head coach. He stayed with the team as a senior advisor for one year.
Senior Advisor Role (2024)
As a senior advisor in 2024, Carroll took a step back from the team's daily operations. He wanted to give the new coach, Mike Macdonald, space to build the team his own way.
Las Vegas Raiders (2025–Present)
On January 25, 2025, Pete Carroll was hired as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. This marked his return to coaching after his advisory role with the Seahawks. When he coaches his first game for the Raiders, he will become the oldest head coach in NFL history. The Raiders also traded for Geno Smith, reuniting Carroll with his former Seahawks quarterback.
Coaching Style
Pete Carroll is known for his energetic and positive coaching style. On offense, he likes to be aggressive, sometimes using trick plays or trying to get a first down on 4th down instead of punting.
On defense, Carroll focuses on preventing big plays. He lets opposing teams gain small amounts of yards but tries to keep them from making long, game-changing plays.
Carroll's coaching ideas come from a book called The Inner Game of Tennis. He learned that focusing and believing in yourself helps you perform better. He also learned from famous basketball coach John Wooden that a strong, clear message is important for a team.
He is known for his humor and for planning fun surprises during practice to keep the team's spirits high. He also liked to have practices open to the public, believing it helped his players perform better.
Helping the Community
After moving to Los Angeles, Carroll was concerned about violence in some areas. In 2003, he helped start A Better LA, a charity focused on reducing violence in Los Angeles.
He also launched CampPete.com, an online game for kids. It teaches his "Win Forever" philosophy through games and motivational messages. Part of the money from the website goes to A Better LA.
Family Life
Pete Carroll is married to Glena, and they have three children: Brennan, Jaime, and Nate. Both Brennan and Nate have worked as assistant coaches for the Seattle Seahawks and now work with their father on the Las Vegas Raiders coaching staff.
Images for kids
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Carroll with the Seattle Seahawks in 2021
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Carroll giving an interview after a fall practice in 2008
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Carroll leads his team through the "Trojan Walk", a tradition he started at USC in 2001.
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Pete Carroll talking to a pro scout before a game; during his tenure, 53 USC players were drafted by the NFL.
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Pete Carroll in the Super Bowl champions parade in Seattle
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Pete Carroll embracing Richard Sherman at Super Bowl XLVIII
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Pete Carroll with Ugo Amadi during a game in 2020
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