Pete Carroll Gets Personal About Rift With Ex-Seahawks $40 Million Star

Pete Carroll may be coaching the Las Vegas Raiders, but the legendary coach was still on the sideline during the best years of the Seattle Seahawks franchise’s history. During a recent podcast interview with Seahawks legends Marshawn Lynch and Michael Robinson, Carroll reflected on his time in Seattle.

Carroll made an unexpected comment about his strained relationship with a former Seahawks star. During the long-ranging discussion, Carroll opened up about his feelings about Earl Thomas, indicating the former star safety does not want to have a relationship with his former coach.

“I kind of keep track of everybody as best I can, and for those guys just to be available, if they’ve got questions, they’ve got thoughts, they’ve got whatevers, you know,” Carroll said of his relationship with former players and coaches during a June 19, 2025, interview on the “Da Get Got Pod.”

“… They gave the gift to me to kind of just stay with them. And what happened, and you guys know, too, because we’ve been through this together,” Carroll added.

“And when we go through this thing together, there’s a connection that’s made. It doesn’t fall away. It doesn’t go apart unless you’re talking to Earl or something like that, you know.”

Earl Thomas Left the Seahawks in 2019 for a $55 Million Contract With the Ravens

The off-handed comment prompted a strong reaction from both Lynch and Robinson. Thomas was on a four-year, $40 million contract with the Seahawks before signing a $55 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens in 2019.

“You really threw that in there, huh, coach?” Robinson reacted. “You just threw that in there real quick like we (weren’t) teammates with him, you know what I’m saying?”

“You’re going to get up off of E.T., man,” Lynch said jokingly.

Pete Carroll on Earl Thomas: ‘I Still Love Earl. He Doesn’t Love Me’

This prompted a blunt reaction from Carroll revealing that the two are not exactly on speaking terms. The final memory of Thomas for many Seahawks fan is the seven-time Pro Bowler being carted off the field and holding up his middle finger to Carroll as he headed towards the locker roon.

“I still love Earl,” Carroll responded. “He doesn’t love me.”

Earl Thomas on Seahawks: ‘They Didn’t Try to Give Me a Deal’

During an April 23, interview with Seattle’s King 5 News, Thomas reflected on the viral moment from 2018. Thomas explained why he was angry with Carroll at the time.

“Coach Carroll just told me that we was thinking about getting me a new contract,” Thomas explained. “This would have been my third one, but I ended up getting hurt the next game. So I was just pissed that I missed camp.

“They didn’t try to give me a deal, knowing I’m the best player of defense. They didn’t try to give me a deal. They made me wait it out. Then I get injured. It sucked, so I was just like, you knew I was pissed. I hate being an introvert. It just makes a bad light around everybody around me because I’m pissed off.”

Carroll and Thomas may not be sending each other holiday cards, but the legendary safety also had some kind words to say about his former coach.

“I actually heard coach Carroll do some interviews which made me happy just to hear him talk good about me, because we didn’t speak much after that because we’re so busy trying to leave the team,” Thomas added.