Pete Carroll at the combine: ‘We’re going for it’

New Raiders’ coach again said team is ready to build an instant winner

New Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll met the media Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Here are some highlights from his session:

• At his introductory press conference 29 days ago, Carroll said the Raiders’ goal was to win “immediately.” He echoed that sentiment Tuesday. He said the new part ownership group under majority owner Mark Davis “is really fricken jacked to do something special and and you’ll see in the efforts to put this team together. We’re not holding back. We’re going for it.” I took that quote as a hint that this team is coming into this offseason hot and aggressive. They have money to spend. Let’s see what happens. Look, Carroll will be 74 in September and be the oldest head coach in NFL history. He wants to win now.
• Carroll was complimentary of his working relationship with new general manager John Spytek and part owner Tom Brady. Spytek downplayed Brady’s involvement earlier Tuesday, basically saying they talk here and there and Brady consults. Carroll, though, said Brady is available every day. My take: Brady is involved and is aware of everything, but it’s more as a consultant right now and not as the daily-decision maker grinder. That can always evolve over time.
• Carroll said it was his goal to compile a staff that included members of his Seattle staff, members of the Raiders’ past coaching staff and coaches he’s never worked with before. He loves the mix of the group. He sees value in keeping defensive assistants like Patrick Graham and Rob Leonard. He always likes that he added some coaches from the college ranks to help get an edge in the draft class.
• Carroll said he has been impressed by the attitudes of the players he’s met in the past month. He likes their hunger and urgency. He said it’s obvious many players on this roster want to win big and they want to do it now. He appreciates that.
• Like Spytek did, Carroll avoided answering a question about interest in Matthew Stafford. He did say the Raiders’ quarterback competition will be “widely contested,” no matter who is added at the position.

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

• As he said at his introductory press conference, Carroll spoke a lot about his year off. He spent the 2024 season watching all levels of football from the NFL to the junior varsity high school level. He is excited about how he got to view the game from a different approach. He said the game slowed down and he show it more from an analytics sense. He said he’s excited to put what he’s learned to work this season.
• Carroll said new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly had “an amazing offense” at Ohio State and he watched him coach all of last season. He said he and Kelly have had a long friendship.
• Carroll told reporters that the Raiders’ defensive free agents, which include Nate Hobbs, Robert Spillane, Tre’von Moehrig, Malcom Koonce and Divine Deablo, is a priority.

• Carroll said his first month has a been a “frantic” pace and a “blur” as he has hired a coaching staff, working with Spytek and the new players. He said it’s been a lot of run.
• Carroll smiled when asked about his former Seattle star linebacker Bobby Wagner. He said he thought he had a great season in Washington in 2024 and noted that he is a free agent. Don’t be surprised, folks. Carroll also noted that many of his former Seattle stars, including free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson, stay in touch.

• He was asked about his interest in the Chicago Bears job, which he the only other team he formally interviewed for. He said he liked the the history of the franchise, the city, quarterback Caleb Williams. He said things didn’t quite work out. My opinion: Carroll wanted back in the NFL and would have been fired up to take any job. He got the Raiders’ gig and he will put all of his energy into it.
• He told a Seattle reporter that the city, where he spent 15 years, is “still home.” Thus, he said his job in Las Vegas goes beyond just the team. he feels a responsibility to the city as well.