Pete Carroll out as Seahawks coach after 14 seasons

Pete Carroll agreed to step down as the Seattle Seahawks' head coach, the team announced Wednesday.

Carroll will remain with Seattle as an adviser.

"What's gonna happen now is the process will start to get new leadership here, Carroll said Wednesday, adding, "We'll be supporting them as much as possible."

The specifics of Carroll's new role haven't been solidified, but that isn't impacting his enthusiasm.

"I'm fricking jacked," Carroll exclaimed, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. "I'm not tired. I'm not worn down. ... What's coming now? I've got no idea. But I'm excited about it."

Carroll thanked his family, the team's ownership, and the coaches who worked under him over the years. He also highlighted the importance of his relationship with players and thanked current and former Seahawks.

"The NFL is about the players," he said. "We've not recognized that to my satisfaction. ... Without those guys doing what they do, there's nothing."

The Seahawks finished 2023 with a 9-8 record for the second consecutive season and narrowly missed out on a playoff berth. They opened the campaign 6-3 before dropping four consecutive games, including a pair of losses to the division-rival San Francisco 49ers.

Carroll said he fought to remain the team's head coach until he and ownership agreed it "made sense" for him to step down, according to Mike Dugar of The Athletic.

"I love these guys," Carroll said Monday when asked about coaching the team in 2024. "That's what I would like to be doing and see how far we can go. I'm not tired. I'm not worn out. I need to do a better job and help my coaches more."

The longtime coach wouldn't say Wednesday whether he'd consider a coaching role elsewhere.

"Today's about today," he said, according to Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein. "I don't know that."

Carroll had been Seahawks head coach since 2010, amassing a 137-89-1 record and a Super Bowl victory. He owns the franchise's all-time marks in wins and winning percentage.

Carroll was one of the key minds behind the Legion of Boom defense that helped the franchise earn its first Lombardi Trophy. Seattle's defense hasn't been as dominant in recent years, ranking 27th in success rate and 23rd in EPA/play since 2018, according to Ben Baldwin's database.

The 72-year-old joined the Seahawks after acting as USC's head coach from 2001-09. He's also coached the New England Patriots (1997-99) and New York Jets (1994) during a career that began in 1973.