As the momentum builds toward Pete Carroll becoming the next coach of the Seahawks, a source with knowledge of the situation tells us that the team quietly traveled to Los Angeles this week to interview Carroll for the job.
Officially, the Seahawks went to L.A. to interview a General Manager candidate. In reality, they met secretly with Carroll.
So that’s why the thing is moving along — and the cat apparently is getting out of the bag because the deal is close to being completed. As the source explained it, the firing of Mora adds further fuel to the notion that Carroll is in the can.
Per the source, the Seahawks decided at some point to go “big-game hunting,” and that fallback candidates include Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden, and John Fox.
But the process continues to point to Carroll, who gave ESPN’s Chris Mortensen a half-hearted (hoof hearted) quasi-non-denial denial.
UPDATED: Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times was the first to report that the Seahawks interviewed Carroll earlier this week, beating us by an hour or so. (Farmer!) Per the report, CEO Tod Leiweke and others met with Carroll to “gauge his interest.”
Carroll would be crazy to leave USC for 98% of the NFL jobs. He has a successful programs, great university, great location (LA), makes millions, regarded one of the best coaches in the college ranks. What could the NFL offer that he isn’t already getting?
I think Carroll should wait for the Jacksonsville Jaguars move to LA, and then he could take over and run the show there, if the NFL is what he wants to do.
Florio breaking news, I like it!
Go Bruins!
I guess Paul Allen didn’t get the memo on how much Carroll blows at the Pro Level.
Rah Rah Rah just doesn’t work with 30 year old men….
Don’t these billionaires talk? Geez…
He would be crazy to leave for any franchise. It didn’t work the first time. Plus, why leave sunny so-cal? I mean I know firsthand the people are the WORST, but he has it made there.
I bet Pete Carroll is foaming at the mouth about the possibility of working with Tatupu again. He also probably wouldn’t mind making a trade for Matt Leinart, a guy who thrives in his offense but who he could probably get on the cheap given his inability to perform for the Cardinals despite a number of opportunities.
Also, look for them to draft McKnight if this happens.
How the eff are Cowher, Gruden, and Fox the fallback candidates? Does Leiweke have a clue?
The worst thing about this is Pat Kirwin might be off NFL radio. I can’t take more of douchebag Adam Schein.
I would LOVE to know how much they think Carroll is WORTH, with a mediocre pro level coaching record,… GREAT college coach, you’d think these NFL Owners would learn their lessons w/NICK SABAN & BOBBY PIETRINO
I’m with PiKindaGuy, except Go Bears!!
@bfreaky You’d be waiting a long time for the Jaguars to move to LA. Weaver doesn’t want to sell the team.
@BFreaky— USC is about to get beat up by the NCAA for all the BS they’ve been getting away with for so long. I think Carroll knows this and is ‘gettin while the gettin’s good’….
He has not been successful at the pro level but I’m hoping he learned from his prior two stints.
I’m also hoping the Carroll thing falls through and we pick up Bill Cowher. I can’t believe I just openly admitted that… But Cowher is the best coach on the market right now.
Florio is on the radio now! http://www.950kjr.com
BonerJams’03 says:
January 8, 2010 5:25 PM
“I guess Paul Allen didn’t get the memo on how much Carroll blows at the Pro Level.
Rah Rah Rah just doesn’t work with 30 year old men….
Don’t these billionaires talk? Geez…”
Ask the Jets about that!!!
Carroll would leave USC because he accomplished much there, but has to be getting bored. Some people enjoy new challenges and the Seahawks would present a huge challenge.
Kinda fitting that the NFL network showed: “Top 10 coaches who should have stayed in college” last night…
Who is this Pete Carroll fellow? Sounds made up, frankly.
“…the team quietly traveled to Los Angeles this week to interview Carroll for the job.”
Whoa- the whole team?
“Officially, the Seahawks in L.A. to interview a General Manager candidate.”
“…was the first to report that the Seahawks interviewed Carroll earlier this week, beating up by an hour or so.”
Florio- how about a little less traveling and some of that money sent the way of an editor? Or at least reading the post through more than once before posting? Hard to be professional when you do not sound professional- kinda like gettin “blow’d up”.
@ Bonerjames
Just like the Pats never got the memo about Belichick? Hell, Carroll actually has a way better record as an NFL coach then BB had before he came to the Pats.
That said, Carroll would be crazy to leave his cushy job.
I’d rather hire Jim Harbaugh than Carroll.
“He was the head coach of the NFL’s New England Patriots for 3 seasons (1997-99) and New York Jets for 1 year (1994). He guided the Patriots into the playoffs in his first 2 seasons, winning the AFC Eastern Division title at 10-6 in 1997 and advancing to the second round of the playoffs, then posting a 9-7 regular season mark in 1998. His overall record in New England was 27-21 in the regular season (including 8-8 in 1999) and 1-2 in the playoffs. He owns the franchise’s second-best winning percentage (54.9%).
After serving as the Jets’ defensive coordinator for 4 seasons (1990-93), he became the team’s head coach the following season. His 1994 Jets went 6-10. Only 3 other Jets head coaches won more games in their rookie campaign.
He spent the next 2 years (1995-96) as the defensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers, who won the NFC Western Division title both seasons. The 49ers were 11-5 in the 1995 regular season when they had the NFL’s top-ranked defense and then went 12-4 in 1996.” -ufctrojans.com
that looks like a pretty freakin impressive NFL resume to me, bruh.
Pete Carroll is a college coach. He’s a good college coach, but he’s a college coach.
Stop it!
Pete Carroll should never even WANT to coach in the NFL again. Why? Because long-term, he makes more money at USC than he would in the NFL.
And the reason why I say that is because he has something that few NFL coaches have: Job Security.
The Rooney Rule is a nice idea, but is poorly implemented. There is no reason a company should be forced to interview anyone if they have a specific individual (or set of individuals) in mind that they want to hire.
Maybe make the rule a carrot, not a stick.
LighTsouT:
If that is true than his credentials are better than some coaches who took over franchises. I did not know that, I thought his time in the NFL was bad.
Rooney, Rooney, Rooney, Rooney, Rooney, Rooney!!
Also buy low, sell high and the going rate for perceived premier coaches in the NFL is going nuts. He should strike it while he can.
Carroll has not been getting it done against teams in the Pac 10 last couple years, OSU and Stanford prior to this year. Rumor is USC has been a little upset in losing to ‘lesser’ teams costing a shot at the national title. Petey’s time to move on is about now especially after the down year he just had. “Go on, take the money and run.” He can always get back into College ranks (see Saban, Lou). Maybe he wants new challenges. Saying goes, look out, you might get what you wish for.
Why would anyone think Pete Carroll is an upgrade from Mora? They’re both mediocre NFL head coaches. You can’t just go by the W/L stats he had. He took a Super Bowl contender that Parcells built and made them worse each year. And Carroll would be a loon to give up the situation he is in.
back to the days of petros papasukdikus at usc!!! usc will pay for their cheating!!! usc will be back to irrellevant in no time!!! hope you spoiled children enjoyed the run while it lasted! douche bags(will ferrell)!
@ jibfest
I know exactly what you meen… it took me 5 years, but I finally realized that the people in SoCal really are the Worst! The weather’s amazing, but the people suck!
Who cares!!!!
Hello, Farmer.
Florio,
Why aren’t you spouting off about Rooney rule conspiracies like you did to the Redskins?
No mention of “due diligence” I notice. Oh well, someday you will be an objective “reporter” rather than someone who lurks the internet stealing real reporters work.
My bad!
I will admit I am wrong…
did not read previous posts earlier in the day
-ufctrojans.com
that looks like a pretty freakin impressive NFL resume to me, bruh.
—————————————-
Be even more impressive if UFC had a college football team and they were named the trojans
I thought Pete Carroll had learned his lesson? He failed as the head coach with the Jets and with the Patriots. He found heaven at USC! Why leave the university?
So that your Seahawks team can have the crap beat out of them in perpetuity by the likes of the Eagles, Cowboys, Vikings, Cardinals, Patriots, Colts, Ravens and Steelers?! Then Pete the embattled Seahawks coach/GM can begin to wonder why he left USC after several years of this?
This is like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer. It always feels better when you stop.
GO STEELERS!