The Seattle Seahawks are moving on from head coach Pete Carroll, but there should be a handful of suitable replacements for the franchise as they try to make it back to the postseason in 2024.
Owner Jody Allen released a statement via X on Wednesday to let Seahawks fans know that Carroll would be stepping down as head coach. However, it appears that Carroll will be staying with the franchise and serving in an advisor role.
Statement from Jody Allen - Chair, Seattle Seahawks pic.twitter.com/RNUZvF6Vgp
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 10, 2024
As one of the several NFL teams to part ways with their head coach this week, the Seahawks will be near the front of the line to interview potential Pete Carroll replacements this offseason. Here are a few potential candidates that would be worthy successors to Carroll in Seattle.
Dan Quinn
If the Seahawks are interested in a potential reunion with a former assistant, then Dan Quinn should be at the top of the list.
Quinn is currently the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys after a disappointing stint as head coach for the Atlanta Falcons. Prior to his opportunity to be a head coach, Quinn was an extremely successful defensive coordinator in Seattle, coaching the Legion of Boom on their way to two Super Bowl appearances and a Lombardi Trophy.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport has already named Quinn as a potential successor for Seattle, but the Cowboys DC will be considered for several head coaching vacancies this offseason.
Shane Waldron
Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
The Seahawks may not need to look far for their next head coach, and if they want to consider an in-house option, then offensive coordinator Shane Waldron could be considered a leading candidate for the job.
Waldron has been coaching in the NFL since landing a job with the Patriots back in 2008. Despite only being 44 years old, Waldron is approaching two decades of coaching experience in college and the pros, and has run the Seahawks offense since 2021.
The Seahawks offensive coordinator has helped revive Geno Smith's career, and if management wants a more offensive-minded head coach going forward, Waldron could at least be in the running as Carroll's repalacement.
Jim Harbaugh
The Seahawks found immense success with poaching Carroll from the college ranks when they hired the former USC Trojans head coach. Perhaps the franchise could go that route again in 2024, this time making a run at Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Now that he's won a national championship with his alma mater, Harbaugh could look to try coaching in the NFL once again. He helped lead the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl the last time he was in the NFL, and Seattle is in a good position to compete in 2024 and beyond.
Despite all the speculation that Harbaugh could leave for the NFL this offseason, it will likely take a significant offer for that to happen, and it's unclear if Seahawks ownership would be willing to drop a bag on a new head coach.
Ben Johnson
Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images
Of all the possible candidates out there, no potential head coach is generating as much buzz as Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Despite being just 37 years old, Johnson has quickly moved up the ranks of coaching in the NFL, and has been running the Lions offense effectively since 2022. He's credited for making Jared Goff one of the most productive quarterbacks in the NFL the past two seasons, including throwing for 4,575 yards, 30 touchdowns, and just 12 interceptions in 2023.
Johnson is going to have his pick of NFL head coach opportunities if he wants to take the next step this offseason. For the Seahawks, he may be the top pick for plenty of fans, but they'll need an awfully strong pitch to lure him to Seattle.
