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The Pete Carroll experiment is officially over for the Las Vegas Raiders. The season came to an end for the Raiders on Sunday as they secured a 14-12 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, snapping a 10-game losing streak. It was a disappointing conclusion to the campaign for Carroll and Co., who finished with a 3-14 record, the worst for the franchise since 2006.
On Friday, Raiders offensive quality control coach Conner McQueen took to Instagram to share a special tribute.
It was McQueen who provided the emotional backdrop for the exit. The photo captured the staff, including Davante Adams and Aidan O’Connell, in a moment of reflection.
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The 74-year-old coach, Carroll, said that he was not tired, he was not worn out, and that he was ready to keep competing.
“I’m not worn out. I’m not tired. I’m not any of that stuff,” Carroll said Monday. “I need to do a better job, and I need to help my coaches more, and we need to do a better job of coaching. There’s a lot of area for improvement.”
The Raiders’ front office made a different decision on Black Monday. This came in the form of an official firing delivered by owner Mark Davis and minority owner Tom Brady. The organization has officially begun a search for a new head coach.
The Raiders have been eliminated from contention for weeks now, and the team has had the opportunity to address the unfortunate situation multiple times. However, this will be the first offseason where they hold the No. 1 overall pick to secure a franchise quarterback.
Pete Carroll’s firing creates a poetic symmetry in his career
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll walks by his players as they stretch before the Raiders’ rookie mini camp, Friday May 9, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
DJ Cabanlong- The Sporting Tribune
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Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll walks by his players as they stretch before the Raiders’ rookie mini camp, Friday May 9, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Tom Brady was one of the key figures who advised Davis on the decision to move on from Carroll, per reports. The Raiders suffered through a season where they averaged a meager 14.2 points per game and ranked dead last in EPA per play.
Geno Smith, who started at quarterback, did not have much of an impact on the team’s offensive success, leading the league with 17 interceptions.
Maxx Crosby, the defensive centerpiece of the team, has been vocal about the team’s instability:
“When it comes to football, there are certain things that I truly believe in, and I feel like there are core principles that you gotta live by, and there’s a certain way the game needs to be played,” Crosby said, via the Let’s Go! podcast. “And there’s a certain approach that you have when you go into the field. And the way you look at it, from my perspective, is you play to win. You play for your teammates, you put everything you have into the game, no matter what it is. There’s gonna be bumps and bruises. You’re gonna be banged up. That is a part of the game and the nature of the beast.”
What’s interesting to note, however, is that Pete Carroll’s firing creates a poetic symmetry in his career. In 1994, Carroll was fired by the New York Jets after just one season.
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Incidentally, the Raiders have officially interviewed Klint Kubiak for the vacancy. Kubiak is currently a highly sought-after candidate following successful stints with the Saints and Seahawks.
Kubiak has only confirmed interviews with the Raiders and the Ravens. This comes as the Raiders look to pair a new offensive mind with their incoming rookie quarterback.
As for the rest of the field, the Raiders have also met with Matt Nagy and Kevin Stefanski. The team did not provide a timeline, but Mark Davis is expected to make his announcement soon enough.
