The Las Vegas Raiders have turned the page on Pete Carroll's brief and tumultuous tenure. Raider Nation is buzzing with excitement over the new leadership duo of John Spytek and Klint Kubiak, along with a significant free agency haul. Yet, Carroll's silence since his departure had been notable-until now.
Carroll recently broke his silence in a conversation with ESPN's Rich Cimini, focusing on the trade of Geno Smith to the New York Jets and reflecting on the Raiders' rocky 2025 season. True to form, Carroll took responsibility for Smith's struggles, acknowledging his role in bringing the quarterback to Las Vegas.
"We should've coached him better," Carroll admitted. "Geno's a phenomenal quarterback.
He had a fantastic offseason and preseason, and then things just didn't click. We faltered, and that’s on us as coaches."
Carroll emphasized his personal shortcomings in preparing Smith, lamenting the lack of readiness that plagued their season. "We didn't prepare him well enough, despite his strong start. It was disappointing for us both."
However, Carroll's account seemed to gloss over other issues, particularly with the offensive line. He pointed fingers at Spytek for not upgrading the line, despite his own son coaching the struggling unit.
"We got killed up front," Carroll stated. "We needed to upgrade more than we did, but it didn't happen in the draft or offseason."
Carroll's defense of his family and former Seattle Seahawks associates was evident, as he avoided critiquing his son, Brennan Carroll, who led the league's worst rushing attack and offensive line. Yet, other coaches like Chip Kelly and Tom McMahon faced consequences for the team's failures.
Despite Carroll's claims, Spytek had taken steps to strengthen the line, extending Kolton Miller and adding new talent. The decision to play Stone Forsythe over Charles Grant, and the underutilization of Jackson Powers-Johnson, weren't on Spytek.
The Raiders did make aggressive moves, trading for a veteran quarterback and drafting a running back early. Young linemen showed promise when given opportunities, highlighting the potential that Carroll's regime failed to fully harness.
Carroll's comments underscore why his time with the Raiders was short-lived. His inability to align with Spytek, coupled with favoritism, hindered the team's progress. While his recent remarks may frustrate fans, they serve as a reminder of how far the Raiders have progressed since his departure.