Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly before the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Reports: Chip Kelly leaving Ohio State to become Raiders OC

Chip Kelly is leaving national champion Ohio State to return to the NFL as offensive coordinator of the Las Vegas Raiders, ESPN reported Sunday.

Kelly, 61, spent just one season with the Buckeyes and the campaign ended with a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff national title game.

Quarterback Will Howard threw for 5,786 yards and 48 touchdowns in 50 games over four seasons at Kansas State before transferring to Ohio State. Under Kelly’s tutelage, Howard passed for 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns in 16 games in 2024.

Kelly served four years in the NFL as a head coach, going a combined 28-35 with the Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15) and San Francisco 49ers (2016).

Kelly also spent 10 seasons as a college head coach. He went 46-7 in four seasons at Oregon (2009-12) and 35-34 in six seasons at UCLA (2018-23).

The Raiders recently hired former Seattle Seahawks and Southern California coach Pete Carroll as their new head coach.

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll looks on prior to facing the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Back to school: ‘Professor’ Pete Carroll returns to USC

Former Southern California and Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is going back to school.

Carroll told Seattle’s Sports Radio 93.3 KJR-FM on Tuesday that he will be teaching a class at USC this spring.

“I’m looking forward to that,” he said. “It’s going to be a really exciting endeavor when it’s finalized and all that.”

The radio appearance marked Carroll’s first comments to Seattle media since his farewell news conference with the Seahawks in January.

Carroll did not provide any specifics about his plans for the classroom.

“Everybody wants to know what I’m doing and all that, am I coaching or what am I doing. I’m working with some really fun people and some exciting opportunities to do some really cool stuff and putting things together … for others, so I’m going to keep working that way and see what happens,” he said.

Carroll’s Seahawks finished 9-8 in 2023 but missed the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. He compiled a record of 137-89-1 in Seattle, including a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII, before being replaced by Mike Macdonald.

“I haven’t talked to those guys at all,” Carroll said of his recent interactions with the Seahawks. “I ran into Mike in the parking lot one day, and it was a great chance to just, the two of us alone, to meet, say hey and kind of get greeted, and on we go. I have not had much to do with them in any way, and really I’m just watching the games a little bit when I see them on TV.”

Carroll was the head coach of the Trojans from 2001-09, leading them to an undefeated national championship season in 2004. Before arriving at USC, he was the head coach of the New York Jets (1994) and New England Patriots (1997-99).

Carroll, who turns 73 next month, left open the possibility of a return to coaching.

“I get asked it a lot and I’m pretty familiar with the answer now,” he said. “I could coach tomorrow. I’m physically in the best shape I’ve been in in a long time. I’m ready to do all the activities that I’m doing and feeling really good about it. I could, but I don’t really — I’m not desiring it at this point. This isn’t the coaching season. We’ll see what happens.

“I’m not waiting on it at all. I’m going ahead. I’ve got other things that I want to do that I’m excited about, and I’m going to see how all that goes. I’m not thinking that I’m holding my breath and that kind of thing. If it’s been 40-something years, 48 years or whatever coaching, and [if] that’s it, I’ll feel OK about that.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll looks on in the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Pete Carroll odds for six remaining NFL openings

Pete Carroll said he has “plenty of energy” at 72 years old to continue coaching, and there are six remaining NFL vacancies after New England tabbed Jerod Mayo to replace Bill Belichick on Friday.

Carroll led Seattle to its lone Super Bowl title after the 2013 season, but the Seahawks have won only one playoff game since 2017. Could a team seeking a quick return to contender status be interested in a coach who posted 11 winning seasons in 13 years in Seattle?

SportsBetting.ag is offering odds on Carroll for each of the six remaining openings, although he’s not among the top five favorites for any of them.

PETE CARROLL NEXT TEAM ODDS
–Carolina Panthers (+1500)
–Atlanta Falcons (+2000)
–Las Vegas Raiders (+2000)
–Tennessee Titans (+3300)
–Washington Commanders (+4000)
–Los Angeles Chargers (+5000)

The shortest odds are with the Panthers, who fired Frank Reich midseason. However, Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is the current favorite at the book at +2000 and Carroll is also behind eight other potential candidates.

His longest odds are to land with the Chargers, despite the team having a playoff-caliber roster led by franchise quarterback Justin Herbert. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who Carroll waged many fierce battles against when the former was the coach of the San Francisco 49ers, is the odds-on favorite at -200.

Carroll doesn’t know the level of interest that may or may not find, but he’ll be all ears if the phone rings.

“I don’t know that,” he told 710 ESPN radio in Seattle. “I’ve got plenty of energy for it and thought and willingness, but I can’t imagine there’s a place, the right one. I don’t know. I’m open to everything, but I’m not holding my breath on that.

“There’s a lot of world out here that I’m excited about challenging and going after. So if that happens, it happens. We’ll see. I really don’t know what to tell you about that yet.”

(Odds provided for informational purposes only. SportsBetting.ag is not a regulated sportsbook in the United States).

–Field Level Media

Jul 29, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn reacts during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Take 5: Top Seahawks candidates to replace Pete Carroll

SEATTLE — Pete Carroll’s 14-year tenure as the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach coming to an end on Wednesday may have come as a shock on the national stage, but it was more of a mild surprise to close observers of the franchise.

Carroll, 72, is heavily revered in the Pacific Northwest. He led the Seahawks to their lone Super Bowl title after the 2013 season and posted 11 winning seasons — including a 9-8 record this season.

However, there were cracks in the facade in recent years. Seattle has won just one playoff game since 2017, and the team has struggled to execute on two Carroll principles — running the ball consistently and playing physical defense.

This season, the Seahawks ranked 31st in rushing attempts while giving up the second-most rushing yards on defense. It was a combination that all too often led to Seattle scraping by in games it was expected to win and getting blown out by the two No. 1 seeds — San Francisco and Baltimore.

So, who will general manager John Schneider turn to in order to return the franchise to true contender status in the NFC?

Among the seven head-coaching vacancies, Seattle figures to be among the most attractive with a roster that boasts a solid young core that includes book-end tackles on the offensive line and star rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon, among others.

Five Seahawks Coaching Candidates:

5. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Head Coach
Harbaugh will be on the tip of the tongue for every vacancy until he lands a new NFL job or decides to return to the Wolverines. There are pros and cons when evaluating Harbaugh with the Seahawks.

The Pacific Northwest is across the country from his brother, John, in Baltimore, but it’s also in a separate conference, meaning they wouldn’t have to square off often. Jim would also be handed the reins of an offense with two capable young running backs and in a division where he’d get to face his former team, San Francisco, at least twice a year.

4. Mike Vrabel, ex-Titans Head Coach
Vrabel checks a lot of boxes as a defensive coach known for instilling a hard-nosed culture in Tennessee, built on his days playing for Bill Belichick in New England. He’s also still only 48 and led the Titans to three playoff appearances in six seasons. It’s still unknown if Belichick will return to New England for the 2024 campaign, and if Vrabel would be the Patriots’ top choice if he doesn’t.

3. Chris Petersen, ex-Washington Head Coach
This was an interesting name out of left field floated by former Huskies and Seahawks quarterback Brock Huard on 710 ESPN radio in Seattle shortly after the news of Carroll’s departure as coach surfaced. Petersen resigned as Washington’s head coach in 2019 after six years at the helm of the Huskies.

Now 59, Petersen has spent the past several years as a television analyst and as an advisor for Washington, where he aided in the hiring of current Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer. It’s a longshot, but this could be Petersen’s best — and perhaps final — opportunity to try his hand as an NFL head coach if the desire is there.

2. Mike Macdonald, Ravens Defensive Coordinator
If Schneider is longing for the days that the “Legion of Boom” dominated football games, then Macdonald might be his man to replace Carroll. The 36-year-old Macdonald was on John Harbaugh’s staff for seven seasons before spending a year with Jim Harbaugh as Michigan’s defensive coordinator in 2021. He returned to Baltimore as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator the past two seasons.

Baltimore finished the regular season first in scoring defense, tied for first in takeaways and first in net yards allowed per pass attempt. The Ravens boast the type of fast, physical style that Carroll’s units simply lacked in recent seasons. The discrepancy between the two units was on full display for Schneider in the Ravens’ 37-3 shellacking of the Seahawks in Baltimore in Week 9.

1. Dan Quinn, Cowboys Defensive Coordinator
All early signs point directly at Quinn, who reportedly already has plans to talk to the Commanders, Panthers and Chargers about their coaching vacancies.

Quinn, 53, served as Carroll’s defensive coordinator for two years — both resulting in Super Bowl appearances led by the “Legion of Boom” secondary — before landing the head-coaching job in Atlanta. After three years as Dallas’ defensive coordinator, Quinn is already on the short list of names for several teams, and his Seahawks ties could make for a natural fit to carry the torch.

–Derek Harper, Field Level Media

Aug 26, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll (right) congratulates quarterback Geno Smith (7) as he comes off  the field in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

GM, coach laud Geno Smith’s self belief behind career year

With a new three-year, $105 million contract in tow, Geno Smith was celebrated as the quarterback of the present for the Seattle Seahawks.

In a press conference at team headquarters Thursday, Smith was showered with appreciation from the Seahawks for his commitment to the franchise and belief in himself. Smith stepped into a starting role, which was never truly contested by Drew Lock, after the Seahawks traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos last March.

The 32-year-old Smith delivered while making $3.5 million last season, guiding the Seahawks to a wildcard playoff spot, earning a Pro Bowl nod and now cashing in with a contract that could pay him 30 times his 2022 rate.

“There were a lot of years when Geno just had to sit there, waiting,” head coach Pete Carroll said, seated to Smith’s right and opposite general manager John Schneider at a press conference Thursday afternoon. “The story that has been unveiled about believing in yourself and confidence and trust and never giving up is just a vivid illustration of Geno. He always knew. He always knew he could do this. When it happened, the opportunity was there, and you handled it so flawlessly.”

Carroll said Smith approached the Seahawks about a team-friendly deal that ties more than $30 million to incentives and performance bonuses. Carroll said he wasn’t surprised to hear Smith say his concern was leaving the team room to build a championship team around him.

“I believe in team first,” Smith said Thursday.

Smith was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2022. He was a backup for seven seasons with four different teams and all but discounted as a serious option to be Seattle’s starter for even one season. He set franchise single-season records for passing yards (4,282), completions (399), completion percentage (69.8) and pass attempts (572), breaking three previous Wilson records.

“I know you know this, but what an inspiration you’ve been to men, women, young, old, all around the country,” Schneider said. “Lessons about faith, perseverance, work ethic. Being a good person, man. Watching you last year was awesome, and I know you’re super-excited about the future. So thank you to you.”

Last week, Schneider said at the NFL Scouting Combine the Seahawks are digging deep into the quarterbacks in the 2023 draft, and Carroll called the No. 5 pick — part of the return from the trade return from the Broncos for Wilson — a “rare opportunity.”

Schneider, raised in the Green Bay scouting department where quarterback insurance was a top priority, nodded and smiled when asked if Seattle could keep Smith and spend a high pick on a quarterback in the 2023 draft.

“They don’t grow on trees,” he said.

–Field Level Media

Jul 25, 2019; Renton, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, right, talks with general manager John Schneider during training camp practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Pete Carroll: Seahawks ‘deeply involved’ with top QB prospects

Don’t rule out the Seattle Seahawks making a move for a top quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Even if the team is able to re-sign free agent quarterback Geno Smith as planned, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said he and general manager John Schneider are diving headlong into the 2023 QB draft class.

“We are totally connected to the quarterbacks that are coming out,” said Carroll. “This is a really huge opportunity for us. It’s a rare opportunity for us. We’ve been drafting in the low 20s for such a long time, you just don’t get the chance for these guys. So we’re deeply involved with all of them.”

The Seahawks are discussing a multi-year contract with Smith, Carroll said. The 2022 Pro Bowl selection handled last season “impeccably,” Carroll said Tuesday.

“We are working hard to keep it going,” he said.

Carroll said there a “number of guys in the past” who were put on the shelf for awhile only to get another chance.

“It’s a message for us,” Carroll said of Smith. “There’s other guys that can do the same thing. … Maybe we have given up on guys too soon. Some of that is themselves. They have to maintain the belief in themselves. Geno is a remarkable illustration of that. He never wavered. He expected to win the job. He expected to be successful. He expected to be where he is right now.”

Seattle has the fifth pick in the draft and five selections in the top 85. The No. 5 pick is Seattle’s highest draft choice since 2009 as return for trading Russell Wilson to the Broncos. Seattle also has the 37th pick from Denver.

Carroll said keeping Smith and drafting a quarterback is a “definite” possibility.

Field Level Media ranks three quarterbacks among the top seven prospects in the 2023 draft.

–Field Level Media

Sep 12, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) hugs Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll following a 17-16 Seattle victory at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Wilson denies asking Seahawks to fire Pete Carroll, GM

Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson denied a report that he asked Seattle Seahawks ownership to fire head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider before he was traded to Denver in March 2022.

Wilson said via Twitter on Friday morning that a report from The Athletic detailing an alleged plot of have Carroll and Schneider fired to bring in Sean Payton as head coach wasn’t accurate.

“I love Pete and he was a father figure to me and John believed in me and drafted me as well. I never wanted them fired. All any of us wanted was to win,” Wilson wrote. “l’ll always have respect for them and love for Seattle.”

Wilson and Carroll embraced on the field after Seattle’s 17-16 win on Sept. 12, when the Seahawks edged the Broncos in Wilson’s return.

A lawyer for Wilson sent a letter to The Athletic, saying the report published Friday that the quarterback wanted Carroll and Schneider fired was “entirely fabricated.”

Wilson now plays for Payton, who was hired this month as head coach of the Broncos. He spent last season working for FOX as an NFL studio analyst after stepping away from coaching the New Orleans Saints.

Carroll, 71, has been with the Seahawks since 2010 and was part of the braintrust that drafted Wilson 75th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. Schneider also was hired in 2010 and signed a contract extension in 2021.

Wilson, 34, spent 10 seasons with the Seahawks and guided the team to a Super Bowl XLVIII win (February 2014) over the Broncos, 43-8. He also threw a goal-line interception in Super Bowl XLIX (February 2015) with 20 seconds remaining in a painful Seattle defeat, 28-24, at the hands of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Denver went 5-12 in Wilson’s first season with the Broncos in 2022, which included the firing of first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett in December.

–Field Level Media

Aug 26, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll (right) congratulates quarterback Geno Smith (7) as he comes off  the field in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Geno Smith wins Seahawks’ QB competition

Two days after saying he was in no hurry to decide on the Seahawks’ starting quarterback, Seattle coach Pete Carroll announced his decision on Friday, going with Geno Smith rather than Drew Lock.

The official word came after the Seahawks lost 27-26 to the Dallas Cowboys on Friday in Arlington, Texas, in their preseason finale.

However, the choice appeared to have been made in advance, as Smith received the starter’s treatment in the contest. He played only the first offensive series, leading the Seahawks to a field goal while completing half of his six passes for 43 yards.

Carroll noted that Lock saw his chances of winning the starting role diminish when he missed part of the preseason after testing positive for COVID-19.

“He’s going to start the opener, and he’s earned it, he’s won the job,” Carroll said of Smith. “With the timeframes, it got messed up for us for Drew, he just ran out of time in making his bid for it. And so yeah, I’m cool about that, so I just want to let you know, so everybody knows, so you don’t have to ask me about it anymore.

Lock completed 13 of 24 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown on Friday but was intercepted three times.

“Drew’s going to keep on battling because he can play, and he’s got all kinds of stuff in him, and I want him to be ready at a moment’s call,” Carroll said. “And he’s going to keep growing and pushing and developing as a fantastic player and I have no problem playing with him, too.

“So, we’re fortunate to have two guys who can go, and when he comes off the bench, if he gets his chance he’ll be ready to go and try to light it up.”

Smith said, “I’m thankful for the opportunity and grateful, but I have a lot of work ahead of me. That was my mindset from the start is getting ready to go out there and win games.”

Lock said, “As a competitor, you’re always disappointed and I was disappointed. You want to be out there, you want to play with those guys. … It’s my job to have (Smith’s) back and be the best teammate I can be.”

Smith, 31, is entering his third season with the Seahawks after four years with the New York Jets and one year apiece with the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Chargers. He posted a 1-2 record as a starter last year, putting his career record at 13-21 in starts.

In 45 NFL games overall, Smith has a 58.8 percent completion rate to go with 6,917 passing yards, 34 touchdowns with 37 interceptions.

Lock, 25, joined the Seahawks in the March deal that shipped quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. He owns an 8-13 mark as an NFL starter to go with a 59.3 percent completion rate, 4,740 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in 24 games overall.

–Field Level Media

Jun 7, 2022; Renton, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and quarterback Drew Lock (2) return to the locker room following  minicamp practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll in no rush to select starting QB

Geno Smith and Drew Lock are battling to become the Seattle Seahawks’ starting quarterback, and the competition could roll on for a while.

The team plans to use as much time as is needed to come up with the right decision, coach Pete Carroll said on Tuesday.

Carroll wouldn’t even commit to a starter for the Seahawks’ exhibition-season finale on Friday against the host Dallas Cowboys. He did confirm that Smith remains on top of the depth chart at the moment, but that’s due in part to Lock missing last week’s preseason game after testing positive for COVID-19.

“I’m wide open for whatever happens,” Carroll said. “Geno has been the guy in the lead position the whole time and protected that thought throughout. He’s done a really nice job, he’s been very consistent. So we’ll just see what happens. And there’s two more weeks of practice too after this. I had a set thought on what we would do with the timeline, but that got disrupted (with Lock testing positive for COVID), so we’re going to use all the time we need.”

The Seahawks have a day longer than most teams to prepare for the regular season as they open on the first Monday of the campaign, Sept. 12, against the Denver Broncos and former Seattle QB Russell Wilson.

“I’m not closing the book on anybody competing for their spots,” Carroll said. “We have two enormous weeks coming up. The finish of this one, next week is a huge week for us, then we come back with another full week, and an extra day. So we’ve got a lot of time here to work it out on my schedule.

“Maybe you’re not feeling that schedule, but on my schedule, I’m OK.”

Smith, 31, is entering his third season in Seattle after four years with the New York Jets and single seasons with the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Chargers. He went 1-2 as a starter last year, leaving his career record at 13-21 in starts.

In 45 NFL games overall, Smith has completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 6,917 yards and 34 touchdowns with 37 interceptions.

Lock, 25, arrived in the March trade that sent Wilson to Denver. He is 8-13 as an NFL starter with a 59.3 percent completion rate, 4,740 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in 24 games overall.

“I could go ahead and just call it, but I want to let the guys battle and let them show where they are and let us get as much information as possible,” Carroll said. “Geno’s done a really good job of being in that position. His voice is solid. He’s on point all the time. He’s been very consistent with his work all of that, and Drew has been really sharp.

“I know it’s not supposed to be a good situation when you have two quarterbacks. It means you don’t have one, is the old saying. I don’t know that. We might have two ones. We’ll see what happens.”

–Field Level Media

Jun 7, 2022; Renton, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) receives a shotgun snap in front of quarterback Drew Lock (2) during minicamp practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Drew Lock returns, Seahawks not rushing QB call

Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks see Russell Wilson in Week 1, but the franchise has not yet decided on the starter who will replace the new quarterback of the Denver Broncos.

Since trading Wilson to Denver for Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant and draft picks, the Seahawks have tested veteran Geno Smith and Lock in an ongoing competition to take the reins of the Seattle offense. The Broncos and Seahawks open in Seattle on “Monday Night Football” on Sept. 12.

“I’m going to take the time it takes to figure it out and make sure we have all the information that we need,” Carroll said. “I can’t wait to see what happens in this game. Geno’s done a good job and Geno needs a little more help from some guys — they got to be able to catch the football a little better — but he’s handled it well. You go back, Drew has had three drives and had two touchdown drives, so he’s put some stuff on the resume out there.

“So we’ll see what happens this week. And we do have really good weeks of practice coming up. This week is a great one, next week is a great one and the one after is a great one so we’ll use all of that if we need it.”

As of now, there is no clear winner of the duel, which was essentially paused while Lock battled COVID-19 for a week.

“He did OK today. He seemed to bounce back,” Carroll said of Lock returning to practice Sunday. “He’s six, seven days into it now, so he’s in good shape as far as getting back. But you never know until you get out there and start running around. He hung in there, tough, so that’s good.”

Carroll said he might share later in the week his plans for Friday’s preseason finale against the Dallas Cowboys.

Smith had the opportunity to distance himself from Lock last week but suffered a bone bruise in his knee and exited a lopsided loss to the Chicago Bears.

Carroll said Smith is fine physically and both quarterbacks are available this week.

Wilson was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and played in two Super Bowls with the Seahawks before he was traded to Denver on March 8.

–Field Level Media