Raiders head coach Pete Carroll recently opened up about his exit from the Seahawks during an interview with Seattle Sports, explaining that the decision ultimately stemmed from General Manager John Schneider being given full control of the team.
Carroll noted that during his time in Seattle, he had the final authority over football decisions. However, with his departure, that authority transitioned to Schneider—a change that team owner Jody Allen supported.
“I realized we were approaching a major turning point in the organization,” Carroll said on Brock & Salk. “Both John and I had been committed to doing things the right way together, and I felt we had accomplished that. It was really time for John to take over. I had been the lead voice for a long time, and I wanted to see John fully take on the role of running the team. We found a way to make that happen, and Jody was supportive. So we agreed that if we could make it work, I’d back the decision. That’s how it came about—it might not be what people expected, but it was John’s time.”
Carroll also stressed the importance of a strong partnership between a head coach and general manager, saying it’s the most critical factor in a successful NFL organization. He said that relationship worked well during his tenure in Seattle and continues to do so with Raiders GM John Spytek.
“The head coach-GM relationship is the most important piece in the NFL,” Carroll said. “I always respected that dynamic with John [Schneider], and I do the same now with John Spytek.”
While Carroll and Spytek have emphasized collaboration in Las Vegas, especially during draft planning, they haven’t publicly stated who has final say. In Seattle, that authority shifting from Carroll to Schneider was the key factor behind Carroll stepping away.