When Kellen Moore accepted the offer to become the next head coach of the New Orleans Saints days after the Super Bowl, all of the coaching openings in the NFL were officially filled.
The Las Vegas Raiders had one of the more interesting sagas when it came to their head coach. For a long time, the team was linked to Ben Johnson before ultimately being spurned by the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator in favor of the Chicago Bears. At that point, the Raiders pivoted towards Pete Carroll, who ultimately accepted the position.
According to NFL insiders, the supposed fallback option for the Raiders is just as good as the original plan.
NFL insiders have Carroll tied with Ben Johnson in a poll for best hire of the season
In a poll on The Athletic where experts were asked about the coaching hires, Carroll finished tied for second with Johnson in terms of best hire. New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was considered the best in the poll.
“The roster is a ways away,” an executive said per The Athletic. “(Carroll’s) energy, self-belief and ability to build culture is going to have an immediate impact on a place that hasn’t had it for a long time. The wins might not be there for a couple years. It won’t be three or four wins (per season), but probably seven or eight because of what he brings. I’d imagine they get a veteran quarterback right away, but do they have the time to take off with needing to get the players in place?”
While it is unanimously believed that Carroll is a short-term solution due to his age, what he brings to the Raiders is immeasurable. For a team lacking stability and struggling to foster a winning culture, Carroll brings both almost immediately to the organization. The level of credibility he brings to the Raiders will lift the team for the next little while, at least in theory.
Pete Carroll may not have been the first choice for the Raiders, but experts seem to believe he was the right one.
Maxx Crosby describes the current feeling in Raiders headquarters
