RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks have called a news conference for today amid a report they have reached a contract extension with coach Pete Carroll. ADVERTISING RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks have called a news conference for today
RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks have called a news conference for today amid a report they have reached a contract extension with coach Pete Carroll.
NFL Network reported Thursday night, citing a “source,” that Carroll and the Seahawks had reached agreement on a contract extension. Carroll’s original five-year deal with Seattle was set to expire after the 2014 season.
The Seahawks announcement did not specify the nature of the news conference and team officials would not confirm the report of an extension for Carroll.
Carroll reached the top of the NFL last season, leading the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl title. Lured away from USC in 2010 with the chance at complete control over the football operations, Carroll tore down then rebuilt the Seahawks roster into one of the best in the NFL. He’s 38-26 in four regular seasons with Seattle and 5-2 in the playoffs.
Carroll has made competition the benchmark of his time in Seattle. It’s why quarterback Russell Wilson and cornerback Richard Sherman have become stars — because they were given opportunities in Carroll’s system.
Carroll, 62, is the second oldest coach in the NFL, but rarely appears his age. He came to Seattle because of the chance he didn’t have in his two previous stops as an NFL head coach: control. Seattle gave him the reins to the franchise, and hired him before adding general manager John Schneider to the mix, a relationship that has been marked by stability and success.
Carroll lacked control in his previous positions with New England and the New York Jets. But after a decade of winning with the Trojans and having that control, it was something Carroll demanded if he was going to get back into the professional ranks and the Seahawks were willing.
Seattle also let Carroll imprint his attitude on the locker room. He wanted a fun atmosphere filled with accountability. Competition was at the crux of everything Carroll did from the day he inherited a 5-11 team. Carroll took Seattle to the playoffs in his first season despite a 7-9 regular season record.
The Seahawks plateaued in 2011 going 7-9 again but took a jump in 2012 after drafting Wilson. The Seahawks went 11-5 in the regular season and reached the divisional round of the playoffs. The roster turnover had been completed and there were massive expectations going into 2013.
Seattle matched and surpassed those expectations. Carroll guided Seattle to 13 wins in the regular season, the NFC West title and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Seattle knocked off New Orleans in the divisional round, then edged San Francisco in the NFC title game to reach its second Super Bowl.
