Still chasing their first playoff win since the 2002 postseason, the Las Vegas Raiders are now banking on the veteran duo of former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith. By locking in Smith on a multi-year extension before he’s even taken a snap in silver and black, the Raiders have made it clear that they are serious about building a competitive roster for 2025.
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Former Super Bowl champion Keyshawn Johnson highlighted the latest hiring by the Raiders as a potential turning point for the franchise. It has got to do with how Carroll builds — or rebuilds — teams, working on individual players. A classic example of this is Smith.
After joining Seattle in 2019, Smith saw his career get a second wind. The majority of his time in Seattle, he was a backup to Russell Wilson. But during Pete’s final two seasons with the Seahawks (2022 and 2023), Smith became the starter and even won the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2022.
The way Carroll inspired a resurgence in Smith makes Johnson a believer in his leadership.
“I believe! I do believe that Pete is going to run the football, he’s going to play defense, they’ve got a solid defense… I understand the division and the conference and all of that, but I got them knocking on the door of that Wild Card,” Johnson outlined during a panel discussion on Fox Sports’ SPEAK.
Johnson wasn’t the only Super Bowl winner turned analyst to show some faith in the Raiders. Former Green Bay Packer Will Blackmon is also predicting a successful rebuild in Las Vegas.
Citing the chemistry between Carroll and Smith, Blackmon highlighted the veteran play caller’s ability to influence his players as the defining trait that will help to transform the Raiders into a playoff-caliber team.
“Pete is the guy… He’s all about the mindset…That’s what he did for Russell Wilson… I think what Pete Carroll is going to be able to do here is create that coaching environment where they can have instant success. I’m thinking nine wins for them, which I don’t think is crazy,” said Blackmon.
The former corner taps into some nostalgia by talking about how Carroll helped shape Wilson into the QB we all came to know. Carroll didn’t just take a flyer on a third-round pick — he gave Wilson a real shot to win the job over Matt Flynn, even though the Seahawks had just handed Flynn a big contract. But it didn’t stop there.
Carroll built the whole squad to support his rookie, leaning on a strong run game and a nasty defense. By year two, they were Super Bowl champs. He let Russ do what he does best: extend plays, take shots when needed, and trust the guys around him. That freedom and structure is what made those early Seahawks teams so tough to beat.
Blackmon predicts Carroll will succeed against other AFC coaches
In a conference as deep at quarterback and head coach as the AFC, many believe Carroll and the Raiders may still be outmatched by teams like the Baltimore Ravens or the Denver Broncos. Still, Blackmon argued that Carroll’s experience and football IQ give him the edge to outcoach nearly anyone in the league.
Blackmon cited Carroll’s wealth of experience — along with his blueprint that gave rise to one of the most dominant defensive units in NFL history, the Legion of Boom — while justifying his faith.
“The good thing with Pete coming back is that he knows how to play against Sean Payton. He definitely knows how to play against Jim Harbaugh… He’s going to use that same formula to get guys to be super competitive, where it’s going to be an instant turnaround,” said Blackmon.
With a career head coaching record of 170-120-1 and a Super Bowl ring to his name, Carroll checks every box for a coach capable of revitalizing a struggling franchise. While his age, 73, might raise concerns for some, Blackmon argues those years are packed with invaluable football wisdom.
Given that Carroll has posted just one losing season since 2011, it’s safe to say the Raiders finally have a proven winner in the building. And that alone could be enough to spark a much-needed turnaround for the franchise.
