Pete Carroll Fired by Raiders After 1 Year, Latest on Tom Brady's Impact on HC Search

Following a disastrous 3-14 finish to the 2025 season, the Las Vegas Raiders made a swift decision to shake things up.

Raiders owner Mark Davis announced on Monday that head coach Pete Carroll has been relieved of his duties after just one season with him at the helm. He reportedly had received a three-year deal with a fourth-year team option at the time of his hiring, but he will instead be a one-and-done for Las Vegas.

Davis also announced that general manager John Spytek "will lead all football operations in close collaboration with Tom Brady, including the search for the club's next head coach."

At 74 years old, Carroll was the oldest head coach in NFL history. He took over the Raiders after spending 15 years with the Seattle Seahawks, 14 of which were spent as their head coach before he moved to an advisor role for the 2024 season.

Las Vegas was hoping that Carroll's experience would help turn around a team that went 4-13 in 2024 under former head coach Antonio Pierce. Instead, the team regressed even further and finished with the worst record in the league this year.

After winning their season opener, the Raiders lost four straight games before defeating the lowly Tennessee Titans. That win did little to build momentum, as they then lost their next 10 games, becoming the first team to suffer two shutout losses in the same season since 2021 along the way.

Before the season, Las Vegas had traded for veteran quarterback Geno Smith to reunite him with Carroll, who had brought out the best in him in Seattle. Unfortunately, the 35-year-old struggled in his new surroundings, and the Raiders' offense ranked last in the NFL with 245.2 yards and 14.2 points per game.

After parting ways with Carroll, Las Vegas is left searching for answers once again. The franchise failed to improve under a first-time coach like Pierce and a veteran coach like Carroll, so it's not clear what the solution will be going forward.

The Raiders have some promising pieces like running back Ashton Jeanty, who totaled 975 rushing yards, 346 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns as a rookie. Star tight end Brock Bowers was limited to 12 games but still managed to produce team highs of 64 catches, 680 yards and seven touchdowns. Las Vegas also secured the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

The next person the Raiders hire will have to figure out the best formula to help the team return to prominence. Las Vegas' last playoff appearance was during the 2021 season, so it's safe to assume that the fan base is growing restless. The team's next hire will need to be someone who could reignite optimism for the Silver & Black in 2026 and beyond.