NFL News: Pete Carroll shares strong take on one of his new Raiders defenders, a familiar face from his Seahawks days

Although his most memorable stint was as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Pete Carroll now leads the Las Vegas Raiders and has decided to reunite with one of his longtime favorites: former All-Pro safety Jamal Adams, who has found a new team for the 2025 NFL season.

Adams thrived under Carroll’s leadership in Seattle and now joins Las Vegas with the potential to take on a new role as a WILL linebacker in the veteran coach’s defensive scheme. The defender was traded from the New York Jets to the Seahawks in 2020 and made a lasting impact on Seattle’s defense over four seasons.

Now, the Raiders are bringing him in as a veteran presence to strengthen a linebacker unit that also added Elandon Roberts, Devin White, Jaylon Smith, and Germaine Pratt. For Carroll, Adams’ aggressiveness, versatility, and physicality are a perfect fit for the type of defense he wants to build in Las Vegas.

Carroll’s thoughts on Adams

“His style of play, aggressiveness, toughness and his mentality is really, really unique. That’s why we were so willing to go after him awhile back. So to get a chance to get him back in our organization and kind of give him an opportunity to get back in the flow of the kind of play he’s capable of, I’m all over it,” Carroll said about the newly added Adams during a press conference.

HENDERSON, NEVADA – JULY 24: Jamal Adams #33 of the Las Vegas Raiders walks on a field after practice during the team’s training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Health Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

“It is because I know him really well and think the world of him. His style of play is so suitable for what we’re trying to do here about being aggressive and tough and all that. So we’ll see what happens,” the Raiders’ head coach added about the familiar reinforcement.

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Adams and the challenge of reviving his career

Adams has totaled 501 tackles, 21.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, and several forced fumbles throughout his career. His best season came in 2020, when he recorded 9.5 sacks, a record for a defensive back. However, injuries have plagued him in recent years, limiting him to just 15 games over the last three seasons. Joining the Raiders presents a chance to revive his career.