Pete Carroll reveals main reason he joined the Raiders ahead of 2025 NFL season

Pete Carroll was chosen by the Las Vegas Raiders to help restore the essence of a franchise that once stood among the NFL’s most iconic. According to the head coach himself, his arrival was heavily influenced by one key figure—someone he identified as a major reason for taking on this new challenge.

The changes in Las Vegas didn’t just affect the coaching staff, but extended to other areas of the organization as well. Tom Brady, one of the most successful players in NFL history, became a minority owner of the franchise—and according to Carroll himself, was one of the key figures behind his hiring.

“When Tom came on board here, it changed my outlook to come here,” the Raiders HC stated during an appearance on Brock & Salt. “I thought that would be one of the great opportunities of all time, to have his presence. His presence is strong, big factor with John Spytek as well.

“…We’re trying to infuse Tom’s mentality. We’re trying to bring it into the organization because it’s so good, so unique, so one of a kind. I think it helps us have the opportunity to have a one of a kind franchise.”

Former NFL player Tom Brady looks on prior to a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 29, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“We’re phone buddies,” Carroll also added. “We’ve talked a ton of times. Talking philosophy with Tom, you can imagine what a thrill it is. He’s the all-time competitor. It’s not just how he played, it’s how he lives and how he sees the world and attacks every opportunity that he has. We’re so eye-to-eye on that, it’s been a blast. That’s really been fun. The challenge of it is to bring that mentality and connect it to an entire franchise.”

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Pete Carroll’s departure from Seattle

For many years, the NFC West featured one of the league’s most experienced head coaches in Pete Carroll. His departure from Seattle came as a surprise to many, both inside and outside the organization. Carroll himself eventually revealed the key reasons behind his decision to step down from his role with the Seahawks.

“It came to me that there was a time that we probably were about to face one of the bigger changes, shifts, in the time of the program, and I had really been dedicated, as John Schneider had been dedicated too, to doing this thing in great fashion together,” Carroll said in an interview with Brock & Salk.

“It was really John’s turn, it was his turn to take over. I had the lead voice and all of that all through that time, and I was really hoping that John could become the general manager of the club and run it. And if we could do that and figure a way to get out of that, we did. Jody was great about it, and so we just kind of agreed upon it that if we could work it out, I would support the thought. That’s kind of how it happened, so it’s a little bit different than maybe how people perceived it,” the HC also added.