The AFC West currently features three future Pro Football Hall of Fame head coaches. As for the Las Vegas Raiders, they’re looking to fill that position once again—could they be adding a fourth coach to that mix?
Most folks are aware that the Raiders have, for all intents and purposes, literally cleaned house. Both Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco, the former head coach and general manager in Sin City, have departed. As has become routine, the Silver and Black are once again in need of a new head coach. Bringing in stability is of utmost importance as Las Vegas feels the influence of Tom Brady. On Monday, the team will meet with Pete Carroll, the former Seattle Seahawks head coach and USC legend.
As The Athletic noted, Carroll would immediately become the face of the Raiders. In turn, Brady (and majority owner Mark Davis) could continue pulling the strings while the organization undergoes a public facelift. Harbaugh, familiar with Carroll, recently faced elimination from the playoffs following his turnaround of the Los Angeles Chargers in less than a single season.
Carroll vs. Harbaugh: Do the Raiders need it?
Both Carroll and Harbaugh had prolific careers as college head coaches. Carroll commanded USC when it was the standard bearer of excellence—this was particularly true from 2002 through 2008. The Trojans never finished with less than double-digit wins in those seasons. Harbaugh, meanwhile, helped lead Stanford back to relevance with Andrew Luck at quarterback. Prior to returning to the NFL with the Chargers, Harbaugh led Michigan back to the National Championship.
Their rivalry began in college thanks to a well-documented upset by Harbaugh’s squad against Carroll’s dominant USC team. From there, things only escalated. They would then translate in the NFL once Carroll was in Seattle and Harbaugh in San Francisco with the upstart 49ers, who immediately became contenders with him at the helm.
Carroll, a Super Bowl-winning coach, presided over a powerhouse in the Seahawks and would bring instant legitimacy to the Raiders. Surely Brady isn’t interested in ratings or what journalists sensationalize, but Carroll versus Harbaugh in the AFC West would give us endless headlines and entertainment.
Imagine that awkward handshake between them after either the Raiders or Chargers wins next season. This week promises to be extremely exciting for Raider Nation.
