Pete Carroll is not planning on walking away from the Las Vegas Raiders.
With the Raiders’ season officially over, speculation ramped up around Carroll’s future after Las Vegas secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The chatter intensified despite the team closing the year with a 14-12 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18. But Carroll quickly shut down any talk of retirement following the game.
When asked during his postgame press conference whether he wanted to return next season, the veteran head coach offered a blunt response.
“Of course.”
Pressed further about retirement rumors, Carroll made it clear he has had no discussions about stepping aside.
“Nobody’s talked to me about that,” Carroll said. “I haven’t said a word to anybody.”
Brady has his sights set on Flores to replace Carroll
The comments painted the picture of a coach eager to continue rather than one preparing to exit. Still, uncertainty remains around Carroll’s future due to growing reports that minority owner Tom Brady may be pushing for a different direction.
According to speculation circulating in the league, Brady is interested in reshaping the Raiders’ coaching staff by bringing in former New England Patriots assistants.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has reported that Brady would target Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores as a potential head coach, with Brian Daboll viewed as a candidate to run the offense.
Flores and Brady are believed to share a strong relationship stemming from their time together in New England. Flores spent more than a decade with the Patriots in various roles before becoming head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2021.
Daboll is another possibility for the Raiders
On the offensive side, Daboll’s résumé is centered on quarterback development. He is widely credited with helping transform Josh Allen into an elite NFL quarterback during his time with the Buffalo Bills.
Daboll also has extensive Patriots experience and later won NFL Coach of the Year with the New York Giants, though his tenure there eventually unraveled. While his head coaching record with New York ended at 20-40, Daboll remains highly respected as an offensive coordinator.
For now, Carroll’s stance is clear: he wants to stay. Whether that aligns with the Raiders’ long-term vision – particularly with Brady’s growing influence – remains one of the franchise’s biggest unanswered questions heading into the offseason.
Read the full article here
