The Las Vegas Raiders hired Pete Carroll as their new head coach in late January, then made arguably the biggest move of the 2025 offseason by making a blockbuster trade for starting quarterback Geno Smith.
The surprise move sets in motion what many are predicting to be a happy reunion between Smith and Carroll. Quarterback and coach were together for four years with the Seattle Seahawks (2020-23) with Smith resurrecting his football career under Caroll while qualifying for two Pro Bowls during that span.
Geno Smith Enjoyed Career Resurrection Under
Pete Carroll in Seattle
The Jets selected Smith in the second round (39th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. He never quite lived up to expectations in New York, latching on largely as a journeyman quarterback for his first six seasons before signing with Seattle in 2019. Smith was Russell Wilson’s backup until winning the starting job in 2022.
He guided the Seahawks to a 9-8 record and playoff appearance that year after throwing for 4,282 yards and a career-high 30 touchdowns. While Seattle lost in the AFC Wild Card Round, Smith earned impressive accolades including the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award which netted him a three-year, $75 million deal to stay in Seattle.
The Seahawks went 9-8 again in 2023, with Smith leading them to an 8-7 record in 15 starts. However, the team missed the playoffs, and Carroll stepped down as head coach to take on an advisory role in the Seahawks’ front office. Smith made the Pro Bowl in 2023 after passing for 3,624 yards with 20 touchdowns.
Las Vegas Raiders Trade for Geno Smith in Free Agency
The Raiders agreed to trade for Smith a week before free agency began and eventually gave him a two-year extension worth $75 million. They are reportedly working on a long-term deal to keep him in Las Vegas.
Whatever happens in the future, the 34-year-old signal-caller has expressed genuine excitement to reunite with Carroll. Smith recently opened up to beat reporter Paul Gutierrez about his relationship with the 73-year-old coach.
#Raiders QB Geno Smith, on coach Pete Carroll: "I'll run through a wall for him…and I'll do the same for my teammates."
— Paul Gutierrez (@PaulHGutierrez) April 7, 2025
Gutierrez wrote: “He’s very relatable. He loves all of his players, just like they’re his kids. He treats us all the same. He treats us like me … he’s legendary.”
Carroll is well-known for his unique ability to relate to his players in the locker room despite being decades older than them. He learned how to bond with younger players while serving as the head coach at USC from 2001 to 2009 where he guided the Trojans to back-to-back national championships.
"He's very relatable. He loves all of his players, just like they're his kids. He treats us all the same. He treats us like me…he's legendary."
— Paul Gutierrez (@PaulHGutierrez) April 7, 2025
Carroll tends to let his players buy into the “Hollywood” mentality and enjoy their celebrity status, going so far as to bring Compton rapper Snoop Dogg to practice one day. Relating to your players is half the battle for any head coach, at any level of sports — and Carroll understands it.
The AFC West could be the toughest division in the NFL in 2025, especially if other Raiders players want to “run through a wall for Carroll.”