Pete Carroll is Fired by the Raiders After a Season
HENDERSON, Nev. – Pete Carroll’s era with the Las Vegas Raiders has concluded after only one year. The team fired the 74-year-old coach on Monday, after a season with a 3-14 record, which ended with a 14-12 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Before the game, Las Vegas had accumulated 10 consecutive losses and had already secured the first selection in the 2026 NFL draft.Raiders owner Mark Davis stated that general manager John Spytek, who was hired along with Carroll last year, will lead football operations along with minority owner Tom Brady, including the search for the team’s next coach. Now, Las Vegas will look for its sixth head coach since 2021. The last coach to be with the organization for at least two seasons was Jon Gruden (2018-21). For Carroll, it’s the first time he’s been fired in his first season since 1994, when the New York Jets let him go after a 6-10 record. Las Vegas hired Carroll last January on a three-year contract (with an option for a fourth year) after he spent a season away from football following his departure from the Seattle Seahawks, after 14 seasons and a record of 137-89 with the team. Las Vegas was looking for someone who could establish a strong winning culture after a 4-13 record under Antonio Pierce, and Carroll, one of three coaches who have won both a Super Bowl title and a national title in college (USC), had the experience to do so. Las Vegas tried to help Carroll speed up the rebuilding process by hiring offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, trading for starting quarterback Geno Smith, and selecting running back Ashton Jeanty with the sixth pick in the 2025 NFL draft. However, although the Raiders started with a win against the New England Patriots, a Week 2 loss to Carroll’s rival, Jim Harbaugh, and the Los Angeles Chargers sent them into a downward spiral. The Raiders lost by double digits nine times and were held to under 10 points five times. They had a 1-5 record against AFC West opponents. Las Vegas ranked at the bottom in every major offensive category, including rushing yards per game (77.5). Smith never met Carroll’s expectations, throwing for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-leading 17 interceptions. Defensively, Carroll’s and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s philosophies didn’t translate into much consistency. Las Vegas was 25th in points allowed (25.4). During his time in Seattle, Carroll never fired a coach mid-season. In November with the Raiders, he fired special teams coordinator Tom McMahon and offensive coordinator Kelly within a span of 16 days.Together they will guide football decisions with a shared focus on leadership, culture, and alignment with the organization’s long-term vision and goals.
Mark Davis, owner of the Raiders
