Career Timeline of Pete Carroll: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Pete Carroll, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Peter Carroll is an American football coach, most recently the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks (2010-2023). Previously, he held head coaching positions with the USC Trojans, New York Jets, and New England Patriots. He is one of only three coaches to win both a college football national championship and a Super Bowl, achieving this feat with USC and the Seahawks respectively. Carroll's coaching career spans both the professional and collegiate levels, marked by success and a distinctive coaching style.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1977: Graduate Assistant at University of Arkansas

In 1977, Pete Carroll spent the season as a graduate assistant at the University of Arkansas, working with the secondary.

1980: Defensive Coordinator at North Carolina State University

In 1980, Pete Carroll became the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at North Carolina State University.

1983: Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator at Pacific

In 1983, Pete Carroll became the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Pacific.

1983: Last Coached in College Ranks

Prior to his hiring by USC in 2000, the last time Pete Carroll coached in the college ranks was in 1983.

1984: Defensive Backs Coach for Buffalo Bills

In 1984, Pete Carroll entered the NFL as the defensive backs coach of the Buffalo Bills.

1985: Defensive Backs Coach for Minnesota Vikings

In 1985, Pete Carroll became the defensive backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings, a position he held until 1989.

1989: Candidate for Stanford Head Coach

In 1989, Pete Carroll was a candidate for the head coaching position at Stanford University, but the position went to Dennis Green.

1990: Defensive Coordinator for New York Jets

In 1990, Pete Carroll became the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets.

1992: Candidate for Vikings Head Coach

In 1992, Pete Carroll was a serious candidate for the Vikings' head coach position but lost the position to Dennis Green.

1993: Continued as Defensive Coordinator for Jets

In 1993, Pete Carroll continued his role as the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets.

1994: Head Coach of the New York Jets

In 1994, Pete Carroll became the head coach of the New York Jets, but was fired after one season.

1995: Defensive Coordinator for 49ers

In 1995, Pete Carroll was hired as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.

1997: Head Coach of the New England Patriots

In 1997, Pete Carroll became the head coach of the New England Patriots in the NFL.

1997: USC Coaching Position

In 1997, USC tried to recruit Pete Carroll to be their head coach while he was coaching the Patriots, but Carroll was unable to take the position.

1999: Fired by Patriots

In 1999, Pete Carroll was fired as the head coach of the New England Patriots after missing the playoffs.

1999: End of Tenure with Patriots

In 1999, Pete Carroll's tenure as the head coach of the New England Patriots concluded.

December 15, 2000: Named Head Coach of USC Trojans

On December 15, 2000, Pete Carroll was named the head coach of the USC Trojans, signing a five-year contract.

2000: Consultant and Writer

In 2000, Pete Carroll spent the season as a consultant for pro and college teams, did charitable work for the NFL, and wrote a column about pro football for CNNSI.com.

2001: USC Trojans Head Coach

In 2001, Pete Carroll became the head coach for the USC Trojans.

2001: Start of USC Coaching

In 2001, Pete Carroll's first USC team started with a 2–5 record, leading to criticism, but his teams then went 67–7.

2002: NFL Approaches

Beginning in 2002, Pete Carroll was repeatedly approached regarding vacant head coach positions in the NFL.

December 2005: Contract Extension

In December 2005, Pete Carroll agreed to a contract extension.

2005: Carroll matches Holmgren Record

Pete Carroll matched Mike Holmgren's 2005 season of the same record.

2009: End of USC Trojans Coaching Career

In 2009, Pete Carroll ended his career as the head coach for the USC Trojans.

January 8, 2010: Carroll Rumored to be Hired as Seahawks Head Coach

On January 8, 2010, it was reported that Pete Carroll was close to being hired as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, with only minor details remaining to be finalized in the contract.

January 9, 2010: Carroll Agrees to Contract with Seattle Seahawks

On the morning of January 9, 2010, Pete Carroll reportedly reached an agreement with the Seattle Seahawks on a five-year contract to become their head coach.

January 11, 2010: Carroll Leaving USC to Coach the Seattle Seahawks

On January 11, 2010, Pete Carroll officially left USC to become the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, agreeing to a 5-year, $33 million contract. He had informed his players the previous evening about his resignation from USC.

2010: Seahawks win Division Title

In 2010, Carroll's first season, the Seahawks overturned the roster, started 4-2, faltered in the season's second half, but beat the St. Louis Rams to win the division championship with a 7-9 record. They then upset the Super Bowl Champions New Orleans Saints in the wild-card round before losing to the Chicago Bears in the Divisional Round.

2010: Hired as Head Coach of the Seahawks

In 2010, Pete Carroll returned to the NFL as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

2011: Seahawks Finish with 7-9 Record

In 2011, Carroll coached the Seahawks to another 7-9 record, but the team did not secure a playoff spot, due to the performance of the San Francisco 49ers.

2012: Seahawks Finish with 11-5 Record

In 2012, Carroll and rookie quarterback Russell Wilson led the Seahawks to an 11-5 record, marking Carroll's first winning season with the team. The Seahawks' season included controversy over a Week 3 game against the Green Bay Packers and ended with a Divisional Round loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

2012: Seahawks Begin at Home Winning Streak

The Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 of the 2012 season began an at-home winning streak.

2013: Seahawks Finish at 13-3

The Seattle Seahawks began the 2013 season with four consecutive preseason wins, and finished at 13-3. The Seahawks defeated the New Orleans Saints in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. In the NFC Championship Game, the Seahawks secured a win over the San Francisco 49ers.

February 2, 2014: Carroll Leads Seahawks to Super Bowl XLVIII Win

On February 2, 2014, Pete Carroll led the Seattle Seahawks to their first Super Bowl win in franchise history, defeating the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII. He became one of the few coaches to win both an NCAA championship and a Super Bowl.

2014: Seahawks Defeat Green Bay and Denver

In 2014, the Seahawks began their quest to repeat as champions with a 36–16 defeat of the Green Bay Packers and defeated the Denver Broncos, 26–20 in overtime.

February 1, 2015: Seahawks Lose Super Bowl XLIX

On February 1, 2015, Pete Carroll's Seahawks lost Super Bowl XLIX to the New England Patriots, 28–24, after a controversial play call near the end of the game.

2015: Seahawks Clinch Playoff Berth

In 2015, Pete Carroll was criticized after Super Bowl XLIX, but the Seahawks clinched a playoff berth after a 4-5 start, winning five consecutive games, and winning its Wild Card Round. The Seahawks fell to the Carolina Panthers in the Divisional Round 31–24.

July 25, 2016: Contract Extension with the Seahawks

On July 25, 2016, Pete Carroll signed a three-year contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks, keeping him with the team through the 2019 season.

October 14, 2018: Seahawks All-Time Wins Leader

On October 14, 2018, Pete Carroll achieved his 91st win as head coach of the Seahawks against the Oakland Raiders, becoming the franchise's all-time wins leader, surpassing Mike Holmgren.