Raiders HC Pete Carroll makes something clear about his relationship with Geno Smith ahead of 2025 NFL season

Pete Carroll has been appointed as the new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of the upcoming NFL season. He faces the tough task of improving on a disappointing campaign from last year — but he won’t be doing it alone. Geno Smith has arrived to become the team’s new quarterback, meaning the two will reunite and work together once again in the league.

Their time together with the Seattle Seahawks was highly productive, which made the transition for both of them to Las Vegas feel completely natural. This was reflected in the comments made by the veteran head coach to the media following the Organized Team Activities (OTAs).

“It’s really – it’s been a natural transition. From the time we first contacted him and let him know that we were in on this deal and we were trying to see if we can make some sense of it, we were both excited about it. And so, I feel really like we are connected at the hip. We have so much background,” Carroll stated.

He also added: “I mean, it’s not just the couple seasons that he played, it’s all of the years that he was there. Because to me, coaching the next quarterback up is really, really crucial.

Geno Smith #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders stretches as he talks with head coach Pete Carroll during an OTA offseason workout at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on May 21, 2025 in Henderson, Nevada.

“And so, we spent a lot of time communicating and setting our priorities straight, staying on course, and he’s just been a champion at that. And now he comes out the other end of that time frame, and he’s an elite quarterback in the league. And so, what he brings to us is great confidence. He brings to me, I know that we’re going to get great play out of his spot. So it’s really easy to work that out.”

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Raiders QB Geno Smith issues big warning to the rest of the league ahead of 2025 NFL season

Carroll’s message of appreciation for Spytek’s work behind the scenes

Bringing Geno Smith to the Raiders was never going to be an easy task. However, strong work from the front office — with John Spytek as the most visible figure — ultimately made it possible for the veteran quarterback to land in Las Vegas.

There’s no doubt that Carroll expressed his gratitude for the work done behind the scenes, and he’s now eager to build something special with his new team.

“Yeah, I really feel so fortunate that we were able to get that done. John Spytek got it done for us because of all that he brings. To me, he’s just been emblematic of what a leader should be, by his habits and by the way he brings himself every day.

“He’s the first guy out here, he’s the last guy to leave. It’s really important to him that he stands for what leadership is all about, and he’s a good football player too. He’s looked great in practice so far. So, really excited about what he’s bringing,” Carroll said.