Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (right) and coach Pete Carroll. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Raiders head coach Pete Carroll: 'They're going to be surprised what comes'

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Justin Churchill | Last updated Jan 31, 2025 1:25 PM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders have had an encouraging start of the offseason. The Raiders did exactly everything they wanted to do ... from the start. You may be thinking, "Well, they missed on Ben Johnson," who accepted the Chicago Bears' head-coaching job. But, they didn't.

Owner Mark Davis claims they never even put in an offer to Johnson, yet they did for Carroll, obviously. They got exactly what they wanted there. They never really interviewed any other defensive coordinator but Rob Leonard, who is the defensive line coach. They knew they wanted Patrick Graham back, but had to wait and see how his interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars would go.

And, of course, Tom Brady got the general manager he wanted, a guy he played with in college. So, they have had a great offseason so far. Now, it's about assembling the roster that they want to be competitive with. Can they do that? Some may think so.

Pete Carroll knows they can.

"I'm so fired up that we're doing this together. It's going to be unique, and they're going to be surprised what comes," Pete Carroll said at his introductory news conference. "Maxx [Crosby], send that message man. We’re going to come find you guys and get this thing rolling as soon as possible."

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With that type of attitude, it's no wonder that the team's best player is already fired up. Although, NFL legend Bill Belichick reportedly had a strong negative reaction to the hiring.

Carroll has won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, where he beat the Denver Broncos. He went to another Super Bowl but unfortunately lost to the New England Patriots. Do you remember who the Seattle Seahawks were before Carroll was there? Let me tell you.

The two years before Carroll got there, the Seahawks were 5-11 in 2009, and 4-12 in 2008. His first year there he took the Seahawks to the playoffs. Now, granted, he had a losing 7-9 record, but they made the playoffs regardless.

Carroll would go on to win the Super Bowl in just his fourth year with the Seahawks and only missed the playoffs four times in 14 years. So, honestly, perhaps it makes sense to believe every word he says.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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