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The Seattle Seahawks finally decided to head in a different direction, trading away superstar quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos in a blockbuster deal on Tuesday. The team also released veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner in order to clear cap space and officially commence a rebuild for the franchise moving forward.
Many have already been clamoring for the Seahawks to fire Pete Carroll for various reasons both on and off the field. Moving on from franchise cornerstones in Wilson and Wagner signifies that the team is heading in a totally new direction. This also presents an opportunity for the decision-makers to reconsider their coaching staff in order to ensure that their rebuilding phase will go as smoothly as possible for the foreseeable future.
With that said, here are three reasons why the Seahawks must get rid of Pete Carroll after the blockbuster Russell Wilson trade.
Why Seahawks must fire Pete Carroll
3. Limited postseason success for the last decade
The Seahawks have always been known to be a competitive team in the regular season. However, they have had limited playoff success since reaching back-to-back Super Bowls in the 2013 and 2014 seasons, with one of those resulting in a title.
While Seattle has been to the playoffs five times since that second consecutive Super Bowl trip, there have only been three wins and no trips past the Divisional Round. There were also two seasons with no postseason, including a disastrous 2021 campaign.
Although there are positives to be drawn from consistently winning in the regular season, the postseason is still what matters the most. The Seahawks failed to make waves in the playoffs after those Super Bowl trips, even with Wilson at the helm, and Carroll should take some of the blame.
Also, who can forget the way Seattle lost Super Bowl 49 to the New England Patriots?
2. Carroll has too much control over the organization, yielding questionable decisions
When former Seahawks owner Paul Allen passed away back in 2018, the majority of the management duties for the franchise went to his sister, Jody Allen. The current team owner hasn't really been hands-on with the decision-making for the Seahawks, unlike other more proactive executives in the league like Jerry Jones.
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It wasn't much of a secret that the situation gave Pete Carroll more power and authority to push the buttons and oversee the operations of the organization as a top decision-maker with John Schneider. Unfortunately, the Seahawks have made some contentious moves in terms of player acquisition, whether through the draft or via trade, eventually putting Carroll's decision-making into question.
For one, the team used first-round picks to select RB Rashaad Penny and DE L.J. Collier, who can both be considered busts due to their underwhelming performances through the years. The Jamal Adams trade back in 2020 was also problematic because the Seahawks gave away several prime assets in exchange for the safety's services. Two years later, the team has yet to get the desired returns, as Adams is getting paid handsomely but isn't playing at the level that is expected of him.
On the coaching side, Carroll was also believed to have made the decision of retaining defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. and hiring offensive coordinator Shane Waldron prior to the 2021 season, despite seeing dismal results from their leadership.
These are just some of the things that make people doubt Carroll, not only as a head coach but also as a decision-maker. He should definitely be held accountable for making those moves and the consequences that the organization is experiencing from the poor decisions made over the years.
1. It is the perfect time to start a new era
With two tenured veterans now gone, the Seahawks are poised to open a new chapter in franchise history. In this case, the organization shouldn't only change their players but their head coach as well, especially with Pete Carroll now hitting 70 years old after a long time in Seattle.
Additionally, Carroll has always kept an old-school coaching style and has failed to adjust and keep up with how football is being played today. Yes, he can be considered as the greatest coach the organization has ever had, but it doesn't mean they shouldn't move on from him even when the right time comes.
That right time is now. After the Russell Wilson trade, it is only best for the Seahawks to do a complete overhaul, one that will include Pete Carroll. Once they find the right head coach and acquire quality pieces of talent, the Seahawks can get back to being contenders sooner than later.
