Pete Carroll is preparing for his first major public appearance as Las Vegas Raiders head coach at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
However, even before arriving at the event, he found himself at the center of speculation following an unusual mid-flight interaction with Seattle Seahawks officials.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn, Carroll shared a flight to Indianapolis with Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and general manager John Schneider.
During the flight, the former Seahawks coach reportedly left his seat and spent nearly an hour talking to Macdonald and Schneider in first class. His extended conversation was so noticeable that flight attendants eventually asked him to return to his seat.
Could Carroll be plotting a reunion with Geno Smith?
Given Carroll‘s long-standing relationship with Schneider and his recent advisory role with the Seahawks, a conversation between them wouldn’t normally raise eyebrows. However, the timing and duration of their discussion have led many to wonder if they were talking business – specifically about quarterback Geno Smith.
The Raiders are currently in search of a long-term solution at quarterback after Jimmy Garoppolo‘s struggles last season. Aidan O’Connell showed promise in his rookie year, but it’s unclear if Las Vegas views him as their starter moving forward.
Carroll, who played a pivotal role in Smith‘s resurgence with the Seahawks, could see the veteran quarterback as a strong fit for the Raiders‘ offense.
Smith is still under contract with Seattle but has been mentioned in trade rumors throughout the offseason. If the Seahawks are considering moving him, Carroll‘s Raiders would be a logical destination given his familiarity with the player.
However, while the speculation is intriguing, it remains highly unlikely that serious trade discussions took place mid-flight in a public setting. Raiders general manager John Spytek was not present, making it doubtful that any formal negotiations were happening.
Regardless of the nature of Carroll‘s conversation, the situation has added another layer of intrigue to the Raiders’ quarterback search. If Carroll is indeed interested in reuniting with Smith, there could be more developments in the coming weeks as teams prepare for the 2025 NFL season.
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