Pete Carroll, the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, has discussed the importance of developing relationships with players. He’s also addressed the one friendship that didn’t withstand the business of the NFL in a moment that was both heartfelt and enlightening.
Pete Carroll Re-Visits Broken Connection With Earl Thomas During Podcast Appearance
Carroll recently appeared on the “Get Got Pod” with former Seahawks running backs Marshawn Lynch and Mike Robinson. Carroll, known for his high-energy coaching style and player-first approach, spoke about how deeply he values the personal bonds formed through the highs and lows of football.
“When we go through this thing together, there’s a connection that doesn’t fall away,” he said, then paused, cracked a smirk, and added, “Unless you’re talking to Earl… I still love Earl, he doesn’t love me.”
Carroll was referring to his relationship with former Seahawks safety Earl Thomas. It was an honest admission from a coach who rarely shows regret.
For Seahawks supporters who have followed the club for the previous ten years, the Carroll-Thomas fallout is among the most heartbreaking and tragic plot points in the team’s history.
Thomas powered the Seahawks’ renowned “Legion of Boom” defense. His enthusiasm and energy were unparalleled as a six-time Pro Bowl player and Super Bowl champion, but confidence faltered as football’s business side emerged.
Carroll Broke Thomas’ Trust Over Drama in 2018
In the final year of his contract in 2018, Thomas desired long-term stability. In the hopes of receiving a new contract offer from the Seahawks, he skipped training camp and the entire preseason. However, he was never offered the deal he hoped for and broke his leg in week four against the Arizona Cardinals.
Following the injury, Thomas glared toward the Seahawks’ sideline as he was being carried off the field. It was later confirmed that he was flipping off Carroll.
In a 2019 interview with ESPN, Thomas didn’t mince words.
“I don’t regret my decision,” Thomas said. “If my teammates felt like it was toward them, I regret that part. But I don’t regret doing that to Pete.”
The moment marked the end of one of the NFL’s great coach-player pairings. But Carroll’s words on the podcast weren’t bitter. In fact, they felt more like the reflection of a man who still cares deeply. “I still love Earl,” he said, not out of obligation, but from a real place of emotion. Despite everything, that love hasn’t faded.
But when a connection doesn’t last, like with Thomas, Carroll doesn’t respond with resentment. Instead, he continues to show support from afar, even when the love isn’t returned.