Pete Carroll on feeling of losing Super Bowl XLIX: It doesn't go away

The loss of Super Bowl XLIX weighs on Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson.

Author:
SI Wire
Publish date:
Mar 23, 2015

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said in an interview with NFL Network that the feeling of losing this year's Super Bowl XLIX on the final play is one that will never go away, neither for him nor quarterback Russell Wilson.

With only seconds remaining in the game, Wilson threw a pass from New England's 1-yard line intended for receiver Ricardo Lockette in the end zone. Wilson's pass, however, was intercepted by Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, sealing New England's 28-24 win and earning New England its fourth Super Bowl title since 2001.

Carroll said it was impossible not to dwell on the sequence.

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"Those kinds of occurrences? They don't go away," the coach said. "They don't go away. You just put them somewhere so you can manage them properly. It's back there."

According to Carroll, the play and the loss also weigh heavily on Wilson.

"He thinks of it every day. He told me that: Everyday it comes to mind," said Carroll. "The impact of these games are life long, one way or the other. Russell has taken it extremely hard, just because of the competitor he is, and I would expect nothing less."

Carroll, Wilson and the Seahawks finished last season 12-4 and were at the top of the league in both points and yards allowed, before losing to New England in the Super Bowl. During the 2013 season, Seattle finished 13-3 and went on to defeat the Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII.

SI's Best Photos from Super Bowl XLIX

Malcolm Butler intercepts a pass intended for Richardo Lockette to prevent the Seahawks from scoring a would-be winning touchdown in the final minute.

Malcolm Butler's first career interception gave the Patriots their fourth Super Bowl victory in the past 14 years.

Butler's teammates congratulate him for making the game-saving pickoff on a second-and-goal play from the one.

New England coach Bill Belichick gets a Gatorade bath.

The Patriots celebrate their thrilling last-minute victory.

A victorious Tom Brady was named the game's MVP.

Tom Brady put the Patriots up 28-24 with this three-yard touchdown pass to Julian Edeman with 2:02 remaining.

Julian Edelman was a thorn in the Seahawks' side all night, catching nine passes for 109 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

After falling behind by four in the fourth quarter, Seattle got a 31-yard pass to Marshawn Lynch to get into Patriots territory.

Just as the New York Giants got a miraculous catch by David Tyree in their Super Bowl upset of New England, Seattle got one from Jermaine Kearse that gave the Seahawks first-and-goal at the five with a little over a minute to go.

Kearse kept his eye on the ball and batted it around three times before pulling it in.

Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler was the defender covering Kearse on this 33-yard completion.

Chandler Jones celebrates one of the three sacks of Russell Wilson.

Danny Amendola scores on a four-yard touchdown to pull New England to within three points of the Seahawks, 24-21.

Unheralded Chris Matthews was the star for Seattle, catching four balls for 109 yards and a touchdown at the close of the first half.

Matthews hadn't caught an NFL pass before Sunday's game.

The Seahawks passed up a field-goal attempt with six seconds left before the half and Matthews rewarded them with this scoring catch.

Matthews' catch tied the game at 14-14 at the half.

Earlier in the first half Matthews caught a 44-yard pass against Kyle Arrington.

Matthews' catch against Arrington set up a three-yard touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch that made it a 7-7 game.

Marshawn Lynch finished with 102 yards on 24 carries and this lone touchdown. The Seahawks questionable playcalling in the closing minute denied him the chance to score a likely game winner.

First-year Patriots receiver Brandon LaFell caught one of Tom Brady's four touchdown passes.

Seattle got a touchdown-saving interception by Jeremy Lane in the first quarter but he left the game after injuring his left forearm on the return.

Lane's injury forced Tharold Simon into the game as a replacement and he was the defender on three of the Patriots four touchdown passes.

Lane tried to cushion his fall by extending his arm.

His interception was one of two Seattle came up with against Tom Brady.

Logan Ryan prevents Jermaine Kearse from catching a pass.

Tom Brady equaled Joe Montana with four Lombardi Trophies and three Super Bowl MVPs. He was 37 for 50 for 328 yards against the NFL's top-ranked defense. (Text credit: AP)

Ryan Allen gets toppled by a Seattle defender on an early punt.

Seattle was flagged for hitting Ryan Allen but it wasn't a 15-yarder and a first down.

Julian Edelman and the Patriots hurt Seattle with quick, short catches and then yards after the catch.

Brady gets rid of the ball before the Seattle defense can reach him.

Darrelle Revis tackles a scrambling Russell Wilson.

Marshawn Lynch rumbles for yardage against the Patriots.

Rob Gronkowski had a touchdown catch among his six receptions for 68 yards.

The Patriots had but 13 incompletions among their 50 pass attempts.

Doug Baldwin's wide open three-yard scoring reception with five minutes left in the third quarter gave Seattle at 24-14 lead.

Bobby Wagner had a second-half interception of Tom Brady.

Shane Vereen and the Patriots rejoice over their first Super Bowl win in 10 years.

Rob Gronkowski promised to party into the wee hours of the morning.

The scoreboard says it all.

An unidentified Patriot does a confetti angel.

Julian Edelman enjoys his moment in the spotlight.

The Patriots entered the game with the Deflategate investigation still ongoing.

A view of the stadium before the start of the game.

Carroll also said the sting of the loss could serve as motivation.

"I'm fueled by it and I always have been and there's a big part of me that doesn't want to let it go," Carroll said. "I want to make sure that I'm always with it, I always know what happened so I can learn from it."

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In five seasons as coach in Seattle, Carroll, 63, has a 50-30 regular season record. He has also has gone 7-3 in the playoffs.

Wilson, 26, has started every game for the Seahawks during his three seasons with the team, compiling a 36-12 record with a 63.4 completion percentage, 9,950 yards and 72 touchdowns.

- Christopher Woody

Pete Carroll on feeling of losing Super Bowl XLIX: It doesn't go away

SI's Best Photos from Super Bowl XLIX

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