The Seattle Seahawks have locked up yet another essential member of the team’s core that has helped the team to a Super Bowl championship and perennial title-contender status. With general manager John Schneider and players like Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin locked in, the team has now extended the contract of head coach Pete Carroll.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the news on Tuesday, tweeting that the Hawks head coach will stay in the Pacific Northwest through 2019. Schefter tweeted, “Seahawks reached agreement with HC Pete Carroll today, two days after locking up GM John Schneider, sources tell ESPN. Deal through 2019.”

Just hours later, Seattle owner Paul Allen announced the move, tweeting, “@Seahawks Thrilled to announce we have reached an extension with Super Bowl winning coach @PeteCarroll ! #GoHawks.”

Allen’s tweet was followed up by another announcement, this one from the Seahawks official website.

Career in Seattle

Since joining the Seahawks in 2010, Carroll has turned the team from a losing squad to one that contends for a Super Bowl on a yearly basis. The coach posted 7-9 records in his first two seasons, before starting a run of seasons with double-digit win totals. That run has lasted four years and doesn’t look likely to stop any time soon.

Carroll has won 46 regular season games since the start of the 2012 campaign, as well as a total of eight playoff victories since becoming the Seahawks’ head coach. Those victories included a win in Super Bowl XLVIII, the first championship in franchise history.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll congratulates cornerback Jeremy Lane in an NFL game. Image via Ron Antonelli/Getty Images
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll congratulates cornerback Jeremy Lane in an NFL game | Ron Antonelli - Getty Images

Player development

In addition to changing the culture in Seattle and creating a perennial contender, Carroll has played a significant role in developing a number of low-round draft picks and undrafted free agents into impact performers.

Quarterback Russell Wilson was only a third-round pick but is now one of the elite quarterbacks in the league by improving year in and year out. Fellow offensive contributors Thomas Rawls, Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse were all undrafted but are now in positions to succeed. Rawls looks like one of the more promising young running backs in the league after leading the NFL in yards per carry in 2015. Baldwin, on the other hand, has become one of the best wide receivers in the league. Fellow wideout Kearse has developed a knack for making plays in the clutch.

This is all without mentioning a defense that is arguably one of the best units of all-time. Former fourth-round pick Richard Sherman and one-time fifth-round pick Kam Chancellor have combined with Earl Thomas to form the most daunting defensive backfield in the league. Fellow defensive backs like DeShawn Shead and Jeremy Lane have also developed into above-average players at their respective positions.

All of those players were drafted and molded by Carroll and company. However, the coach has also excelled at helping players who began their career elsewhere develop. Under Carroll’s tutelage and in Seattle’s defense, defensive lineman Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett have become two of the best pass rushers in the league.  

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About the author
Ben Rosener
Ben Rosener is a sports writer born and raised in the greater Seattle area. He is a college who is the editor and founder of two sports websites, Kingdome of Seattle Sports and Know Hitter, the latter of which is a member of the BBA. Ben’s work can also be found on the digital pages of Bleacher Report, USA Today, World Soccer Talk and FanSided among others. He only refers to himself in the third person for bios.