When the Las Vegas Raiders made Pete Carroll their new head coach, the initial response was that of a sigh. Many within Raider Nation said he’s too old, which isn’t inaccurate given that he’s 73. Actually, he’ll be 74 by the time that the season starts. The man has been coaching in the NFL since 1990; “Fear of a Black Planet” by Public Enemy dropped that same year. That’s how long he’s been in the game. Still, you could make the argument that he’s the best coach in the AFC West besides Andy Reid.
Pete Carroll, the ageless wonder…
The Raiders aren’t going to be a laughingstock anymore; they have themselves a real head coach finally. As far as his age goes, who cares? Carroll has always maintained a philosophy that has kept him feeling young since the 90s; it’s simple, really. Love what you do; it’s that easy. In a grind that chews coaches and spits them out, Carroll is as graceful as he’s ever been and that’s exciting if we’re honest.
“It has nothing to do with how old you are, it’s how much passion you have for what you’re doing.” – Pete Carroll
It’s actually mind-boggling if you start to jot down all of the countless players he’s groomed and coached over the years. From the New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, and Seattle Seahawks. Or all of the talent that passed through USC when Carroll figuratively ran Los Angeles. The common denominator through all of that was Pete’s hands-on approach. You’ve all seen it, the way he carries himself on the practice field, on game day, even now—him coaching up Isaiah Pola-Mao was delightful to see. The man hasn’t lost a step; an image doesn’t lie.
Carroll’s impact on the Raiders will go beyond Xs and Os. He’s more of a CEO now; he’s assembled one of the more respectable coaching staffs we’ve seen since the team moved to Las Vegas. No, what will change under Carroll is the culture. Every stop that he’s made, this is what he does: he instills a mindset, a winning attitude, and he does this by leading by example.
The Raiders will soon be revitalized under Carroll
Most recently at Raiders rookie minicamp, you saw that on display; the enthusiasm hasn’t wavered. In fact, Carroll, better than anyone the Raiders have had in the last few years, understands the importance of laying a foundation with the youth. To undo years of losing and ineptitude, you have to turn the page. A “hard reset,” but at the same time, acknowledging that you must remain competitive. That’s why you bring in Geno Smith and draft Ashton Jeanty; you’re showing your team that mediocrity won’t be tolerated.
However, let’s get this clear: he’s not just some cheerleader. He’s proven time and time again he can construct a potent defense. Carroll has done it at every stop and it won’t be any different with the Raiders. He’s working with defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, a coach who was retained despite Carroll’s hiring—the former Seahawks coach understands the key to turning around a program isn’t to necessarily clean house. Instead, you should challenge those who are deserving of your time and push them to the next level.
73, 74—it doesn’t matter; Pete Carroll knows to challenge and inspire and if you take a look at Raiders history this century, there hasn’t been a lot of that. That’s going to change.
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