After 14 seasons on the job, Pete Carroll resigned as Seahawks head coach on Wednesday, moving from the sidelines to an advisory role. Carroll had told reporters after the 2023 season that he expected to return to his post in 2024, but now the 72-year-old former Super Bowl champion has cleared the way for a successor.
Seattle experienced sustained success under Carroll's leadership, reaching the playoffs in 10 of his 14 years at the helm, but failing to reach the postseason in two of his final three seasons. Who is most likely to take over after hanging up the phone? Here are five logical candidates to become the Seahawks' next head coach:
5. Ben Johnson
Current title: Lions offensive coordinator
If the Seahawks are looking for new and innovative designs by moving Carroll up, then the 37-year-old Johnson could very well be their guy. Lauded for developing a quarterback-friendly system in Detroit, where he is a big reason the Lions are hosting their first playoff game in 30 years, Johnson could help lead Seattle into a more forward-thinking era.
4. Mike Vrabel
Current title: Former Titans head coach
All signs point to the 48-year-old Vrabel being ousted at Tennessee not so much because of a lack of success – he led three playoff runs in his first four years in charge – but because of a mismatched vision with changing team leaders. He could find a welcome new home in Seattle, where the goal is presumably to stay in win-now mode with veterans at key positions. His defensive abilities could also be a perfect addition given Seattle's recent struggles on that side.
3. Shane Waldron
Current title: Seahawks offensive coordinator
Carroll remaining in the organization could be a sign that he is trying to maintain as much continuity as possible. In this case, the 44-year-old Waldron makes perfect sense as an internal promotion. After four years under Sean McVay in Los Angeles, he was named Seattle's OC in 2021 and helped the team make a seamless transition from Russell Wilson to Geno Smith under center. If he fails to land the top job, he could easily leave for another high-profile coordinator job.
2. Jim Harbaugh
Current title: Michigan head coach
The dramatic irony here would be unprecedented, considering that the 60-year-old Harbaugh was a well-known rival of Carroll's in both college and the NFL. But sometimes tough competitions lead to championship results. Harbaugh has thrived at both levels on the West Coast, and the Seahawks are arguably primed to compete sooner rather than later. He would also get a chance to top his old team, the 49ers, at least twice a year if that proved to be a viable game.
1. Dan Quinn
Current title: Cowboys defensive coordinator
Quinn, 53, has the most obvious ties to Carroll and the Seahawks, which is why Seattle is already eyeing him as a possible successor, according to Jonathan Jones, lead NFL insider for CBS Sports. Before leading Dallas' play-making defense and serving as the Falcons' head coach for more than five years, Quinn made a name for himself as Carroll's defensive coordinator from 2013-14. In the two seasons that Seattle's “Legion of Boom” unit powered two Super Bowl victories, appearances.