Bears Offseason Preview Part Three: Head Coaching Candidate Pete Carroll
If GM Ryan Poles truly wants a “leader of men” coaching the Bears next season, then perhaps Pete Carroll is the correct choice. Carroll, who last coached the Seahawks in 2023, wants to return to the NFL, and it seems he has Chicago squarely in his sights. Why not? The Bears are linked to every available candidate in this year’s cycle. Carroll is 73 years old and coached Seattle for 14 seasons. He’s also one of the best builders of culture in the game, something the Bears sorely need.
.@Softykjr once told us that Shane Waldron would be a disaster in Chicago. He was right.
Now he's telling us the Bears absolutely should hire Pete Carroll as their new head coach.
"He's one of the best culture builders in football," he says.
Listen: https://t.co/ZDJyzliuuM pic.twitter.com/7hC5sogWCi
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) January 8, 2025
Carroll, a Super Bowl winner, will meet with Poles tomorrow to discuss Chicago’s opening. The veteran head coach also won back-to-back national championships with USC in 2003 and ’04. He certainly checks all of Poles’ boxes.
“Clear vision,” Poles said when asked what he wants in a head coach. “Developmental mindset, really good game management, and a plan to develop the quarterback.”
Carroll’s success with the Seahawks and at USC distinguishes him from the other candidates. But at 73, he is also the oldest of the Bears’ interviewees. Carroll was fired after the 2023 season but was not under consideration for any of last year’s openings. It is not known if any other teams are interested in him this year, though he could be someone the Raiders might consider. Still, his body of work and history of success is too strong for Poles to ignore.
Carroll engineered one of the best defenses in Seattle, and he helped develop Russell Wilson into a nine-time Pro Bowl selection. The two won a Super Bowl in 2014 and another NFC Championship the following season. His record of 181-131-1 is better than every former Bears head coach except George Halas and Mike Ditka.
A lot of fans have a distaste for Carroll, which is understandable, I suppose. He’s a bit of a rah-rah type who clings to his West Coast sensibilities. His age is a factor, too, but I blame that on the ill will toward John Fox. Carroll seems reenergized and ready to lead a team, completely opposite of Fox, who looked like he loathed Chicago at every presser. Besides, would you really be disappointed with Carroll after Marc Trestman, Matt Nagy, and Matt Eberflus? What he would bring to Chicago is stability and a proven track record. Those qualities were missing among the team’s previous three head coaches.
Pete Carroll's coaching philosophy was to value his players more than anything.
I asked him today what he wants the NFL to do to accomplish that at a league level.
His 1 minute, 40 second answer is worth a listen.
"Why wouldn't we be creating superheroes for our young kids?" pic.twitter.com/BYGXiHc60q
— Jake García (@Jake_M_Garcia) January 11, 2024
Can a West Coast guy succeed in a blue-collar city that eats and breathes football? Dick Vermeil did pretty well in Philadelphia, Kansas City, and St. Louis. The Bears resemble the ’76 Eagles as far as culture and attitude. Perhaps Carroll could find similar success in Chicago. Here’s an excerpt from a Harvard publication I found with his specific leadership qualities as its subject:
“Carroll believes that to elevate your game, you need to start with a strong sense of purpose that is anchored in a clear personal philosophy. As a leader, he is committed to the idea that caring personally about each player and his unique needs, background, and aspirations is fundamental to his success as a coach. His style is seen by some as overly positive, touchy-feely, and lacking the top-down edge expected of successful coaches. But what casual observers miss is the rigor, discipline, intense spirit of competition, and passion for winning that underpin his approach. His leadership has enabled a distinctive culture that has become a magnet for highly talented players, especially those who are known as gifted and value their individualism.”
Carroll is also an innovator who strongly relies on analytic data, something that will win him favor with Poles. He’s also a player’s coach, which will win him favor in the locker room.
“It’s really important to us to reach into as much as we can be involved,” Carroll once said. “It’s the whole package of the player that’s crucial in helping him be his best because we see things carry over so much. We recognize that their off-the-field life has something to do with their on-field life. So we’re trying to support them and help them find their best in all areas. We take a lot of pride in doing that.”
Carroll is prepared, too. He reportedly has a coaching staff in place in case he is offered a contract by the Bears or any other team. Add that all up, and Carroll has proved he’s ready to build an environment that encourages players to grow on and off the field. That’s what Poles means when he speaks about leaders of men. That’s the type of culture change Chicago needs to compete with the Lions, Packers, and Vikings.
The reservations attached to Carroll are a bit unwarranted. Though he may not be the right man for the Bears, you can’t dismiss his success as a head coach and leader.
