Las Vegas Raiders agree to hire 73-year-old Pete Carroll as their head coach, AP source says

Pete Carroll is bringing his youthful energy and championship pedigree to Las Vegas. The Raiders, desperate for a revival, have agreed to hire the 73-year-old Carroll as their new head coach. It’s a bold move, hiring the oldest head coach in NFL history — Carroll turns 74 in September — but the Raiders are betting big on his proven track record.

After leading the Seattle Seahawks to two NFC championships and their first Super Bowl title, Carroll stepped away following the 2023 season. Now, he’s taking on the challenge of turning around a Raiders team that has struggled since their move to Las Vegas in 2020.

The hiring is reportedly influenced by Raiders part-owner Tom Brady, who also brought in Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant GM John Spytek earlier this week. Brady and Carroll share a history — most famously, Brady’s Patriots defeated Carroll’s Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX, a game sealed by Malcolm Butler’s unforgettable goal-line interception.

Carroll’s three-year deal (with a team option for a fourth) comes after a tumultuous stretch for the Raiders. Interim coach Antonio Pierce was let go after finishing the 2024 season 4-13. The organization hasn’t seen consistent success, making the playoffs only twice since their Super Bowl run in 2002.

The challenges Carroll faces in the AFC West are significant. The division is stacked with talent, including Patrick Mahomes, who is chasing his fourth Super Bowl title, Justin Herbert, who’s steadily rising as an elite quarterback, and Denver rookie Bo Nix, who showed promise in his first year.

One of Carroll’s first tasks will be addressing the quarterback situation. The Raiders hold the sixth pick in the draft, which likely puts them out of reach for top prospects like Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward unless they trade up. With limited options in free agency, Carroll may have to rely on developing Aidan O’Connell or leveraging nearly $100 million in salary-cap space to build a stronger overall roster.

Carroll’s career has been defined by adaptability and success. From his NFL beginnings with the Jets and Patriots to a dominant run at USC and then the Seahawks, he’s accumulated a 170-120-1 record. In joining the Raiders, Carroll becomes only the third coach since 1940 to lead at least four NFL teams, joining legends Bill Parcells and Marty Schottenheimer.This hire is a gamble — fitting for Las Vegas — but Carroll has proven he knows how to win. For the Raiders, a team hungry to reclaim their storied identity, he might be exactly what they need.