As the NFL embraces a data-driven future, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll is stepping boldly into uncharted territory by integrating artificial intelligence into his team’s operations.
Carroll, now 73, has never been shy about innovation, but his latest move could mark a dramatic shift not just for the Raiders, but for the league at large.
“It’s just such a wide-open domain to kind of figure things out and do things new, take advantage and utilize everything you can think of,” Carroll told The New York Times.
“That’s something I like, man. If you’re not curious, you’re not growing. The last thing I’m going to do is ignore AI.”
Carroll is referring to artificial intelligence as a new frontier that can help teams better understand opponents, make real-time decisions, and even avoid injuries by analyzing player load and fatigue.
To lead this effort, the Raiders brought in Ryan Paganetti as their new “Head Coach Research Specialist.” While the title may seem vague, his actual role is clear: AI integration.
Raiders see opportunity where others see uncertainty
Paganetti is not simply dabbling with spreadsheets or analytics models. His focus is on embedding AI tools into the Raiders’ strategic planning and daily preparation.
“I don’t think when I was hired the idea was, ‘This is our AI guy,'” Paganetti explained. “But there is no doubt whatsoever that I am going to be using AI every single day. And probably in increasingly larger amounts every month that goes by.”
As more NFL franchises incorporate AI into their operations, most still limit its use to basic data management or scouting.
Thomas Dimitroff, a former NFL general manager, estimates that around 75 percent of teams now use AI in some capacity. However, very few are doing more than scratching the surface. Paganetti believes that is about to change.
“It almost might be a blockbuster moment,” he said. “Where some coaches … roles are replaced entirely. That’s an issue in all sorts of industries where AI is just better and more accurate. I think that is going to happen with the football industry, to some degree.”
Will AI provide an advantage?
For now, Carroll and Paganetti are ahead of the curve, believing that deeper AI adoption will soon separate contenders from the rest.
“I feel pretty confident saying some team is going to win a Super Bowl in the next few years utilizing AI at a very high rate,” Paganetti said.
“Significantly higher than it has ever been used before. It’s really an opportunity to differentiate yourself from a team that might have a more talented roster or better coaches or whatnot.”
Despite the enthusiasm, the use of AI in play calling could raise questions. Would fans accept a coach saying, “I didn’t want to blitz, but the AI said I should”?
That tension is real, but Carroll appears ready to handle it. With nearly five decades of coaching experience, he is betting that curiosity and adaptability still matter more than legacy.
The Raiders are still rebuilding, but their forward-thinking strategy might give them an unexpected edge.
In a league where every detail counts, Carroll is making sure the Raiders are not just playing the game but redefining how it is played.
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