Pete Carroll Becomes NFL’s Oldest Head Coach with Raiders Hire

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Pete Carroll, the former Seattle Seahawks head coach, is making a historic return to the NFL sidelines. The Las Vegas Raiders announced Thursday that they have hired Carroll, who will become the oldest head coach in modern NFL history at 74 years old.

Carroll, who turns 74 in September, will surpass Romeo Crennel, who was 73 years and 199 days old during his final game as interim head coach of the Houston Texans in 2020. Carroll’s hiring marks a significant shift for the Raiders, who are looking to rebuild after a disappointing 4-13 season.

Carroll spent the 2023 season out of the NFL, co-teaching a course at the University of Southern California, where he previously coached from 2001 to 2009, leading the Trojans to two national championships. He interviewed with the Chicago Bears and reportedly spoke with the Dallas Cowboys before accepting the Raiders’ offer.

In his 14 seasons with the Seahawks, Carroll led the team to 10 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl XLVIII victory. Despite a second consecutive 9-8 finish in 2023, Carroll fought to remain with the Seahawks, but the team opted to move on, hiring 36-year-old Mike Macdonald as his replacement.

The Raiders’ decision to hire Carroll is one of several significant moves this offseason. The team recently appointed Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant general manager John Spytek as their new GM and has emphasized the importance of finding a young quarterback, with input from part-owner Tom Brady. The Raiders hold the No. 6 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and are projected to have approximately $92 million in cap space, the second-highest in the league.

Carroll’s return to the NFL is expected to bring a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to a Raiders team in need of direction. His hiring also underscores the franchise’s commitment to leveraging veteran leadership as they aim to return to contention.