The NFL encountered significant coaching changes within 24 hours of each other on Wednesday January 10th. First, it was reported that Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll had stepped down. Hours later, the New England Patriots announced that the organization and Head Coach Bill Belichick had mutually agreed to part ways. These events have set up a major shift in the NFL, as both coaches were two of the longest tenured in the league. Belichick was hired in 2000 while Carroll was brought to Seattle in 2010.
The Patriot’s announcement was of no shock to many in the league. There had been rumblings and rumors all season long that Belichick’s time in New England was at its end. The trajectory of the franchise had been trending downward since the departure of Quarterback Tom Brady. In the 4 years since, Belichick’s team had been getting worse and worse, with some claiming he was not good enough on his own but that he needed Brady to be successful. Regardless, Belichick had a legendary run that included 6 Super Bowl titles and complete dominance of the AFC East.
The real shock of the day was the news regarding Carroll. A staple of the league since he left the USC Trojans to return to the NFL in 2010, the energetic coach brought a Super Bowl to Seattle after the 2013 season. His Seahawks were on the verge of a dynasty under the guidance of Quarterback Russell Wilson and the vaunted Legion of Boom defense. Unlike Belichick, there had been no public discussions of Carroll being removed as coach.
However, now that the news has been shared, it is easy to understand Seattle’s decision. Carroll is 72 years old, and while he still has plenty of energy, the team must look to the future. The Seahawks have been a fringe playoff team for the last several years, always being stuck in the middle with no clear direction. For the past 2 years, they have relied on journeyman Geno Smith to quarterback a very average team without an identity. While moving on from a coach that has brought so much success and excitement to the franchise is difficult, it is a necessary move considering the current situation facing Seattle.
Although Carroll will no longer pace the sidelines during games, he will still have an active role within the Seahawks organization. His new role will be that of an advisor and vice president of football operations. Belichick, meanwhile, will seek a head coaching opportunity for a new team. At 72, his time with a new franchise will be short which would seemingly limit his options to a win-now team with a job opening. A team to keep an eye on would be the Los Angeles Chargers who have a franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert. The rest of the roster needs reconstruction in the offseason, but NFL audiences are attuned to what Belichick can do with a good field general.
The NFL will not be the same without Belichick and Carroll coaching the Patriots and Seahawks respectively. It will be an adjustment for NFL fans next season. The league is a business and will therefore continue to undergo changes as the years pass. However, what will be set in stone is the legacy these men leave behind for their respective franchises.
