With growing speculation about head coach Pete Carroll’s future, the Seattle Seahawks rumors are heating up. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports that he is “less sure” about Carroll’s future than in previous years. If Carroll decides to retire, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is being “floated around” as a possible replacement, according to Breer.
Obviously, Seattle still has a month to turn things around. Nonetheless, given the team’s recent losing streak, the NFL insider wonders if Carroll will consider retiring this offseason.
“… I’d say I’m less certain than in recent years,” Breer wrote on December 14, 2023. “Going into this year, it sure looked like the Seahawks were getting closer to having the kind of core group of players they did in Carroll’s early years, with a very strong 2022 draft class returning and a promising ’23 class.”
“… Because, while coming into this year I thought that infusion of young talent might keep Carroll around for a while, if the coach doesn’t think he’s that close, it could alter his decision on returning for next season (during which he’ll turn 73),” he said.
“It’s also been suggested that if Carroll retires, Seattle might try to hire Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn (who was Seattle’s defensive coordinator during its two Super Bowl appearances a decade ago).” Which… if this is it, the Seahawks could do a lot worse.”
Quinn has been hesitant to leave Dallas in recent offseasons, even for another head coaching position. Quinn’s familiarity with the Seahawks may make the Seahawks job appealing. Quinn was Seattle’s defensive coordinator during the team’s back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, including the team’s title run in 2013.
The veteran coach would also benefit from having an experienced general manager in John Schneider. Seattle has a strong track record of success with rosters that Schneider has helped build.
Given Carroll’s mantra of “always compete,” it’s difficult to imagine losing driving the head coach away from football. Carroll will almost certainly be more motivated to return to prove that his coaching philosophy still works.
If the Seahawks continue to lose at the end of the season, the pressure on Carroll will increase. Despite this, Seahawks chairman Jody Allen has consistently backed Carroll, even over Russell Wilson. Carroll leaving the Seahawks after their recent struggles seems only plausible if forced to do so by ownership.
More losses would only fuel speculation about Carroll’s future with the Seahawks.
Quinn will most likely be a popular candidate again during the NFL head coaching carousel. According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, the team’s best candidates could be defensive-minded coaches like Quinn.
“Teams that may be pegged to go offense after Black Monday may very well find their best options are on the defensive side,” Jones wrote in an article published on December 9 titled, “Why the upcoming NFL hiring cycle could mark the return of the defensive-minded head coach.” “At the moment, there are several strong candidates serving as defensive coordinators.
“Both Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks have their teams playing some of the best football in the league, and both men have previously served as head coaches.” Quinn nearly won a Super Bowl with the Falcons, and the passage of time has aided Wilks’ tenures in Arizona and as interim head coach in Carolina last year.”
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