When the Las Vegas Raiders hired Pete Carroll as their head coach, they weren’t expecting a long-term solution. He signed a three-year deal with a team option for a fourth, suggesting a short-term plan from the start.
At 73 years old, Carroll will become the oldest head coach in NFL history when he takes the field for the 2025 season. While three years seems like a fair stretch, many fans are already speculating whether Carroll might begin mentoring a potential successor during his tenure.
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham are logical candidates, though both may find head coaching opportunities elsewhere before Carroll steps away.
Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal recently suggested a surprising potential heir: Carroll’s own son, Brennan.
“If Carroll, who is on a three-year deal with a team option for a fourth, finds success and chooses to retire, keep an eye on Brennan,” Bonsignore wrote. “At 46, Brennan Carroll is currently the Raiders’ offensive line coach. He previously served as offensive coordinator at Arizona and Washington, achieving notable success at the college level. His opportunity may be coming, and if things go well, don’t be shocked if he gets his chance in Las Vegas.”
Brennan has over 20 years of coaching experience, mostly alongside his father. The main knock on him is that he’s never served as a play-caller in the NFL on either offense or defense.
He could potentially step in if Kelly departs for another role in the near future. While it’s a big leap from offensive line coach to head coach, the NFL has seen sons of veteran coaches thrive in similar situations—just look at Kyle Shanahan, Rex Ryan, and the Harbaugh brothers.