The Las Vegas Raiders ended their season on a high note. They were shorthanded without star Brock Bowers in Week 18 but took advantage of the injury-ravaged quarterback room of the Chiefs to cap their rough season with a 14-12 victory over their division rival on Sunday. They still finished as the worst team in the NFL and secured the No. 1 pick. Head coach Pete Carroll’s job was in question, but Carroll isn’t ready to hang it up yet.
Pete Carroll Is Ready to Keep Coaching
It might not be Carroll’s choice whether he will coach again, but if it is up to him, he expects to be back with Las Vegas in 2026. Carroll wants to return and is not planning to retire at this time. When asked postgame, he shut down rumors of his retirement.
“Nobody’s talked to me about that. I haven’t said a word to anybody,” Carroll said.
Asked if he wants to come back next year, @Raiders coach Pete Carroll answered, “Of course.” When the idea of retirement was raised, he laughed, and said, “Nobody’s talked to me about that. I haven’t said a word to anybody.”
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 5, 2026
The Raiders were terrible in the 2025 season, winning only three games. It would be unsurprising if the Raiders wanted to move on from Carroll. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that it is expected Carroll will not coach the Raiders beyond this season, whether through a firing or retirement. After shutting down retirement, the Raiders would likely have to force him out by firing him.
Sources: The expectation is that #Raiders HC Pete Carroll will be one-and-done in Las Vegas — whether that ends up being a firing or a retirement.
The Raiders’ coaching search is expected to cast a wide net, with Tom Brady involved. pic.twitter.com/MGF4U9o4TW
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 4, 2026
The Raiders made several moves to address the quarterback position and provide the offense with weapons. Geno Smith was ineffective and nowhere near his Pro Bowl level from recent seasons. Ashton Jeanty struggled at times behind poor offensive line play, and Brock Bowers had trouble staying healthy. The Raiders finished as the second-worst offense in PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric this season with a grade of 56.5.
The Raiders will have to search for another head coach. They have not been able to find one worth keeping long-term in recent seasons. Even hiring a Super Bowl champion head coach did not bring success. However, Tom Brady is now leading the charge as a part-owner of the team and is expected to be a key voice in the hiring process. He knows a thing or two about winning, so it will not hurt to have him involved.
