Raiders Part Ways with Pete Carroll After Disappointing Single Season
The Las Vegas Raiders have dismissed head coach Pete Carroll after just one year, continuing the franchise’s turbulent search for stability. The decision comes after a disastrous 2025 campaign in which the team finished with a 3-14 record, enduring a 10-game losing streak before capping the season with a 14-12 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Carroll, 74, arrived in Las Vegas with high expectations, aiming to replicate the championship culture he built with the Seattle Seahawks and USC. He reunited with quarterback Geno Smith, hoping to spark the offense, but the results failed to materialize; Smith led the league with 17 interceptions as losses mounted.
Owner Mark Davis announced the move in a statement, confirming that minority owner Tom Brady and general manager John Spytek will lead the search for the next head coach. “Together, they will guide football decisions with a shared focus on leadership, culture, and alignment with the organization’s long-term vision and goals,” Davis stated.
The Raiders now hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, with Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore projected as top targets. The team also boasts significant financial flexibility, with over $100 million in projected cap space. The search for a new leader could lean toward an offensive-minded coach to pair with a rookie quarterback, a strategy that recently yielded playoff berths for the Bears and Jaguars.
This marks yet another reset for the Raiders, who have cycled through coaches including Josh McDaniels and Antonio Pierce in recent years. As the franchise looks to break a cycle of mediocrity that has seen only two playoff appearances since 2002, the pressure is on the front office to finally find the right fit.
