The Las Vegas Raiders were busy this offseason, and perhaps their two most important moves saw them reunite former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith on their roster. This pair enjoyed some success together previously, and they will now be tasked with helping get the Raiders back in 2025 and beyond.
First, they have to return to their old stomping grounds and take on the Seahawks in their first preseason game on Thursday night. There’s no doubt this will be a unique game for both Carroll and Smith, but when asked about returning to Seattle, they both offered very different takes on what this game means to them.
Geno Smith, Pete Carroll Dish on Returning to Seattle
A former second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Smith flamed out early in his career after failed stints with the New York Jets, New York Giants, and Los Angeles Chargers. In 2019, he latched on with Carroll and the Seahawks, initially operating as a backup behind Russell Wilson. After showing his potential while filling in for Wilson on a couple of occasions in 2021, Smith earned the starting job in the 2022 campaign.
After nearly a decade in the league, Carroll helped Smith realize his potential, as he earned a pair of Pro Bowl selections in 2022 and 2023. While the Seahawks posted records above .500 in each of Smith’s three seasons under center, they only made the playoffs once, getting routed in the wild card round by the San Francisco 49ers in 2022.
Carroll did not coach in 2024 after he and Seattle mutually agreed to part ways after the 2023 season, but he was lured back to the NFL by the Raiders. His first real act as the team’s head coach will feature a return to Lumen Field for a preseason clash with the Seahawks, but ahead of the game, Carroll wasn’t looking to make much of his return to town.
“It’s the only game we got,” Carroll said, per Vincent Bonsignore of Las Vegas Review-Journal. “It happens to be in Seattle. I feel really good about the time we spent there. That we were able to stay with what we believed in and make it work. That’s really what stands out about it.”
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Carroll is trying to avoid the spotlight ahead of what figures to be a very important preseason game for his new squad. Smith, on the other hand, was much more open about his excitement when it comes to his return to Seattle, saying he’s looking forward to seeing some old friends from his former squad.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Smith said. “Looking forward to seeing my old teammates. Old coaches. People in the building. It’ll be fun. I’m also going back with Pete. That’s pretty cool.”
Geno Smith, Pete Carroll Have Big Goals for 2025 Season with Raiders
GettyPete Carroll brought a familiar face with him to Sin City.
After three straight losing seasons, expectations aren’t exactly high for Las Vegas heading into the 2025 campaign. It will be up to Carroll and Smith to help lead a turnaround, and there are reasons for optimism despite their recent struggles. With Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers, and Jakobi Meyers working alongside Smith on offense, that unit could surprise some folks this upcoming season.
The defense is a bit more of a work in progress, but Carroll was excellent at getting the most out of that side of the ball during his time with the Seahawks. He may not be interested in discussing his return to Seattle, but if he can replicate some of his best work from earlier in his career, Carroll could go out with a bang when it comes to his coaching career in the NFL.
