Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Bill Belichick Reacts To Tom Brady, Raiders Coaching Hire

Originally posted on The Spun | By Kameron Duncan | Last updated Jan 24, 2025 5:05 PM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders were linked to some of the top candidates in the head coaching market this offseason, but they made a surprising splash on Friday by going with a veteran.

After the trendy names like Ben Johnson and Liam Coen went to different teams, the Raiders elected to go with former Super Bowl winner Pete Carroll.

Carroll is now the league's oldest head coach, and another coach that once held that title reacted to his new job.

North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick reacted to Carroll joining the Raiders during his appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show."

"Pete Carroll has a ton of energy and age is just a number..

He knows how to run a good program and I think the Raiders will improve a lot this year"@Belichick_B #PMSLive https://t.co/sOkUhgIOWY pic.twitter.com/ZV65B6uwF4
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 24, 2025

"[Age is] just a number, and I think Pete Carroll's got a lot of energy," Belichick said when asked if Carroll's age would be an issue in Las Vegas.

"If you look at some of the coaches in the league, like Andy Reid who's not doing too bad. Sean Payton has a lot of experience, did a good job turning that program around in Denver pretty quickly," Belichick said, pointing at some of the older coaches in the league who have found success.

"Pete knows how to run a good program, he's done that multiple times, and I'm sure he'll add a lot to Las Vegas. Honestly, I think they'll improve a lot this year."

Belichick was then asked about Tom Brady's involvement in the hiring process as a Raiders minority owner.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 12: Former NFL Player Tom Brady looks on prior to the NFC Wild Card Playoff between the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

"Tom is a really smart guy," Belichick said about his longtime quarterback with the New England Patriots.

"He does a great job, whatever his involvement was, I'm sure it was positive."

Brady helped bring Carroll to the Raiders, giving the team an experienced head coach after spending a single season with Antonio Pierce on a non-interim basis, only to go 4-13.

The Raiders also have the No. 6 pick in this year's NFL Draft, a pick many believe they will use on their franchise quarterback of the future - likely one of Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward.

We'll see if that happens in a few months, but for now Brady seems to be all in on Pete Carroll bringing the Raiders to prominence, even at this stage of his career.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: