Forget the quarterback, the roster or the salary.
The most compelling part of the Raiders’ job for new coach Pete Carroll came in the form of minority owner Tom Brady.
“Tom Brady. It starts there,” Carroll told ESPN at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “When Tom wanted to do this and he wanted to be part of this thing, that changed my outlook on what could be possible. I’ve found out since how consistently — he is a great compeтιтive mentality and spirit, and he pᴀssed it right to the rest of the ownership group that has been incredibly fired up and jacked to do something special.”
Brady is only a minority owner for the Raiders, with Mark Davis the majority owner, but the legendary quarterback reportedly has plenty of influence and played a large role in Carroll being hired this offseason.
While Brady’s main job is serving as a Fox commentator, in addition to his numerous other responsibilities, Carroll said the future Hall of Famer has been available every day and is always responding to messages.
“It’s hard for anyone to imagine the mentality that Tom lives with on a daily basis. He’s as compeтιтive as anyone I’ve ever been around and obviously he’s as compeтιтive as anyone who’s ever played any game and he’s really clear, the vision he has for how he would to see this go, how he would like to influence it however he can. There is no mistaking it at all,” Carroll said during his press conference Tuesday.
“I’m proud to represent the way he sees it and the way he thinks and look forward to making him feel real proud of what we’re all about.”
Carroll, 73, faces a tall task to rebuild the Raiders the way Brady wants in his return to the coaching ranks after taking the 2024 season off following his split from the Seahawks after 14 years.
He said Tuesday that he purposefully did not retire, leaving the door open for a return.
His new job has him overseeing a franchise that has just one winning season since 2016 and went 4-13 last year under Antonio Pierce.
The Raiders have made the playoffs just once in the last eight years despite the bracket expanding.
Carroll will face issues competing in the ultra-compeтιтive AFC West that features the reigning conference champions in the Chiefs and two other playoff teams in the Broncos and Chargers, especially since Las Vegas lacks a franchise quarterback.
The Raiders have been linked to Sam Darnold following his resurgent year with the Vikings, with a free agent perhaps being their best option since they own the sixth pick in a weak draft for quarterbacks.
Carroll believes the ownership group, including Brady, gives the Raiders a fighting chance.
“We’ve put together a group of guys that are really freaking jacked to do something special,” Carroll said. “It’s so heartwarming to me that we’re on the same page and we’re going for it.”
