While Pete Carroll may still be having fun as a coach, there’s going to come a time when he will retire. The oldest coach in the NFL at 72 years old has been with the Seahawks since 2010. He’s led the franchise to some new heights including it’s first Super Bowl ring, three Pro-Bowl caliber quarterbacks and 10 playoff appearances in over a decade. Soon enough, the time may come that the Seattle Seahawks will need to start looking for replacements for Pete Carroll.
As of now, the Seahawks may miss the playoffs for just the fourth time under Carroll. When that time comes there are many directions that the Seahawks franchise could go. They could opt to pick a younger college coach, maybe one of Carroll’s old coordinators or even an experienced NFL coach who has no ties to the Seahawks franchise. They would likely choose a younger coach to match the times and be able to keep up with other teams in the league.
When the Seahawks decide that it’s time for a new coach, Carroll won’t be outright fired nor does he deserve that. He’ll likely continue in his role as the Vice President of Football Operations for several seasons which means he’ll likely still have a say in who his successor is. Here are top potential replacements for Pete Carroll:
Dan Quinn – Dallas Cowboys DC
Quinn is currently the Cowboys defensive coordinator and is very good at his job. The Seahawks know that though, as he was the mastermind behind the legendary “Legion of Boom.” Bringing in someone that Carroll and GM John Schneider trust would make sense. Quinn has the respect and trust of both. He was successful as a head coach in Atlanta. Not a failure like many think. He led the Falcons to the playoffs twice in five years including one trip to the Super Bowl. Last offseason, he received several interviews but ultimately opted to stay as the DC in Dallas.
It would make sense for Carroll to step down if a coach like Quinn was coming in. There’s a chance that he may not want to be a HC anymore, or he’s waiting for the right opportunity. It’s hard to imagine that anyone would deny the Seahawks job if the opportunity arose. Especially, a coach with Quinn’s caliber. The Hawks have some building blocks that he could work with on both sides of the ball.
Eric Bienemy – Washington Commanders OC
You can’t blame Bienemy for leaving the Kansas City Chiefs. He wanted to have more control over his offense and prove that he doesn’t need Andy Reid or Patrick Mahomes to be successful. He’s done a good job with the Commanders offense this season. It’s been productive despite not having a strong offensive line. The Seahawks are most likely to draft a QB in 2024. Bienemy has proven he can help develop that player and put him in a position to succeed.
Seattle’s offense features multiple weapons including Kenneth Walker, D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Bienemy’s offensive system is modern, aggressive and would make the most out of the weapons in Seattle. A head coaching opportunity for Bienemy is long-awaited and would be awesome for him to get the opportunity.
Ben Johnson – Detroit Lions OC
A hot-shot Offensive Coordinator who has played a big part in the Lions explosiveness on offense. Johnson would be an interesting choice, he’s young (37) and is in-tune with the modern elements of the NFL. He graduated from North Carolina with a degree in mathematics and computer science. The offensive scheme is fully run by Johnson with Campbell in an advisory/oversee role.
Ther would be some crossover in terms of identity. The Lions combine physical and tough with explosive, the same thing that Pete Carroll has tried to do in Seattle. The Lions are fourth in the league in rushing yards and fourth in yards-per-attempt. That’s what the Seahawks have been looking for. A strong reliable run game has been missing realistically since Marshawn Lynch left Seattle.
Bobby Slowik – Houston Texans OC
Out of all the replacements for Pete Carroll that the Seahawks could choose from, Slowik is likely to be the least experienced coach. Seeing what he’s been able to do with C.J. Stroud is quite impressive. He learned for years under the 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan. In fact he spent time working with the 49ers passing game from 2019-2022. Sure it helps that he has a talented QB such as Stroud but the offensive system is still appealing.
Slowik, who is one year younger than Johnson, would be able to incorporate some of the modern-day offensive scheming the Seahawks lack. The offensive weapons in Seattle would flourish in the scheme.
Kirby Smart – Georgia HC
He may be a long shot for the Seahawks, but Smart is probably going to get some NFL interviews this offseason. He led Georgia to two consecutive National Championships. The reigning champs won’t get a chance to defend their title this season after losing to Alabama in the SEC Championship.
Smart spent a brief season in the NFL in 2006 as the Safety coach for the Miami Dolphins. He’s mostly been linked to the Falcons and Commanders, but the Seahawks would not be a bad landing spot either. It wouldn’t be the first time that the Seahawks franchise brought a defensive-minded in from the college ranks.
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