Sources Reveal Truth of Seahawks’ Pete Carroll ‘Push’ For Chargers Coach Job
Contrary to a report from NBC's Pro Football Talk, former Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll doesn't appear to be making a push for the Los Angeles Chargers vacant head coaching position.
Per multiple sources with knowledge of the situation, Carroll and his representatives "put out feelers" regarding interest in the Chargers opening. However, he wasn't one of the 12 candidates interviewed initially and nothing has come to fruition beyond that cursory interest from the long-time coach himself.
On Monday, reports surfaced indicating Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh would meet with Chargers brass for a second interview, who previously met with the team on January 15. Earlier on Tuesday, NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo reported Los Angeles and the former NFL quarterback and 49ers coach were in striking distance of a deal to bring him back to the league.
Along with Harbaugh, the Chargers reportedly were set to meet with as many as six candidates for second interviews. But Carroll's name has never been part of the mix, even if he had reached out about potentially returning to southern California where he found great success at the college level at USC in the 2000s.
As for Carroll's coaching future, he kept the door open on his final radio show on Seattle Sports 710 with Brock Huard and Mike Salk, acknowledging that he still has the desire to do so if the right situation presents itself.
“I’ve got plenty of energy for it and thought and willingness, but I can’t imagine there’s a place, the right one. I don’t know," Carroll said. "I’m open to everything, but I’m not holding my breath on that. There’s a lot of world out here that I’m excited about challenging and going after. So if that happens, it happens. We’ll see.”
With that said, while Carroll had enough interest in the Chargers vacancy to try to throw his hat and Nike Air Monarchs into the ring, that doesn't look to me his next landing spot if he plans on returning to the sidelines. It looks increasingly likely that he will be staying in Seattle in an advisory role as mapped out by the organization earlier this month and another coaching opportunity may have to wait.
