Pete Carroll’s First Season in Vegas Is Spiraling - Could a College Return Offer a Softer Exit?
At 2-10, the Las Vegas Raiders' season has gone from hopeful to hard-to-watch in a hurry. What started with a surprising Week 1 win over the now top-seeded New England Patriots has unraveled into a campaign that feels more like a slow-motion rebuild than a competitive football season. And at the center of it all is Pete Carroll, whose first year at the helm in Vegas has been anything but smooth.
Let’s be honest - this isn’t how anyone envisioned Carroll’s return to the NFL. A coach with a Super Bowl ring and a track record of turning programs around, Carroll was brought in to bring structure, energy, and experience to a franchise that’s struggled to find consistency. But with the Raiders staring down a likely 3-14 finish, the question now isn’t just what went wrong - it’s whether Carroll will even be back for Year 2.
The Future of Carroll in Silver and Black
There’s no official word on Carroll’s job status, but it’s fair to say the seat is warming up. Whether he’s nudged toward retirement, agrees to a mutual parting of ways, or is outright let go, the Raiders will have some decisions to make this offseason. If Carroll does remain in Las Vegas, it’s hard to imagine it happening without significant changes to his coaching staff and possibly the organizational structure around him.
Inside the building, the vibe has shifted. That Week 1 win?
It feels like ancient history. The offense has sputtered, the defense hasn’t held up, and the team looks like it’s searching for answers more than solutions.
Raider Nation, understandably, is restless - and while Carroll’s resume commands respect, the results in Vegas haven’t matched the expectations.
A New Twist: Could College Football Come Calling?
Here’s where things get interesting. During a recent conversation on The Pat McAfee Show, a surprising name surfaced in a discussion about the Penn State head coaching vacancy: Pete Carroll.
The idea came up as former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger floated the possibility of Mike Tomlin leaving Pittsburgh for the Nittany Lions job - a suggestion met with skepticism by JJ Watt, who questioned why any NFL coach would willingly jump to the college ranks unless they had no other choice. But then co-host Boston Connor threw out Carroll’s name, suggesting that with things unraveling in Vegas, a move back to college - specifically to Penn State - could make sense.
It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds.
Penn State is in a tough spot. Their coaching search hasn’t gone smoothly, with BYU’s Kalani Sitake reportedly turning them down and other top targets slipping away. Meanwhile, former head coach James Franklin is already flipping some of Penn State’s recruiting commits to his new job at Virginia Tech, adding urgency - and frustration - to the situation in Happy Valley.
Enter Carroll, who built a college football powerhouse at USC and still carries major name recognition. If Penn State wanted to make a splash and stabilize their program quickly, Carroll could be the kind of hire that energizes a fan base, rallies recruits, and brings instant credibility.
Could It Actually Happen?
There are plenty of hurdles, of course. Carroll is still under contract in Las Vegas, and the NFL season won’t wrap for another month.
That’s not ideal timing for a college program trying to salvage a recruiting class and get ahead of the transfer portal chaos. But if Penn State were willing to wait - and if word got out that Carroll was their guy - it could shift the momentum in their favor.
There’s also the possibility that Carroll could leave the Raiders before the season ends, with a mutual understanding between him and the organization. That kind of exit - amicable, strategic, and with both sides saving face - might be the cleanest solution for everyone involved. The Raiders could move on without the optics of a firing, and Carroll could step into a new role without the cloud of a failed NFL stint hanging over him.
Financially, it could also work in the Raiders’ favor. Owner Mark Davis has already paid more than his fair share of coaches not to coach, and if Carroll lands another job quickly, the team could potentially reduce or eliminate any remaining contractual obligations.
A Win-Win Exit?
This is all hypothetical for now. But the idea of Carroll returning to college - and doing so in a way that allows the Raiders to reset without drama - has real appeal.
For Carroll, it could be a chance to write a better final chapter to a legendary coaching career. For the Raiders, it’s an opportunity to pivot without the mess of a midseason firing or a fractured locker room.
It’s clear that something has to give in Las Vegas. Whether that’s a coaching overhaul, a front office shake-up, or a full-on reboot remains to be seen. But if Penn State comes calling, and Carroll is ready to listen, a fresh start might be the best move for both sides.
For now, Raider Nation waits - and wonders if this one-season experiment is already nearing its end.