“Today’s about today,” has been Pete Carroll’s motto throughout his NFL career. But teams like to think about the future and so, when the Seattle Seahawks showed him the door in January 2024, was it really a surprise? In 14 seasons as the head coach, he took the team to 10 playoffs but won only one trophy, Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014. It looked like a cycle of qualifying for the playoffs and losing. That’s what the management felt. However, the players loved his energy!

The former defensive lineman, Michael Bennett, appeared on the November 6 episode of the Games With Names show with Julian Edelman. It was a walk down the memory lane. As soon as the question about the famous coach came, Michael Bennett’s face lit up. He was all praise for Pete Carroll and gave a sneak peek into his ‘free-spiritedness’.

According to the ex-Seahawks star, the HC was clear about his strategy. “Pete didn’t really like to bother us that much about certain things. You know what I’m saying, it was just like you do your job, come to work, it was more like a team type thing.” That’s something we don’t hear very often. But it worked.

With 10 of 14 playoff qualifications (71%), the 12s weren’t surprised when the team went to the postseason. It was the opposite. They were amazed when the Hawks didn’t. Bennett won the only Super Bowl (XLVIII) of his career under Pete Carroll.

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The experience, though, made him tough. Pete Carroll showed the ex-NFLer his value in the locker room. In Bennett’s words on the Games With Names, “And then, every team I ever been on the defensive line was the most like one of the most important part of the team.” Edelman was in agreement as he stated, “100%, you guys are the best.”

However, the management’s approach was different. They traded him off to the Eagles in the 2018 off-season.

There was an uneasy impatience for the ultimate prize. When Carroll couldn’t replicate his success in the next 10 seasons, he was dealt in the same fashion.

Pete Carroll’s confidence wasn’t down even after Seattle Seahawks’ decision

Paul Allen, the billionaire Microsoft co-founder, brought the veteran coach to the Seahawks in 2010. There was one and only goal. A Super Bowl. Pete Carroll was given a free hand to infuse the winning habit into the franchise. He did, and they won their first Lombardi Trophy. It remains their only Super Bowl till 2024.

However, things changed in 2018. After Paul’s death, Jody Allen became the caretaker of the Allen Estate. The team’s performances were also affected. In his last two seasons as the head coach, the Hawks had a 9-8 win-loss record. As a result, though they entered the playoffs in 2022, they failed to qualify in 2023. His graph was going down, and the management no longer wanted him around.

But the coach wasn’t deterred. When asked if he was tired after such a long stint, the 73-year-old’s words made everyone laugh. “I’m frickin jacked, I’m fired up, I’m not tired, I’m not worn down,” Carroll said. “It’s the end of the season, I’m supposed to go lay on a cot somewhere, I ain’t feeling like that. What’s coming? I don’t know, I’ve got no idea and I really don’t care right now. But I’m excited about it.”

Pete Carroll’s energy is contagious. He is a vibe. Looks like, stranded at the bottom of the NFC West with 4 wins and 5 losses, the Hawks are missing him in 2024!