Several NFL teams will have openings this offseason, setting up opportunities for the next generation of head coaches. However, one veteran leader has plans to make a comeback in 2025.
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Longtime NFL reporter Albert Breer appeared on the NFL on Prime pregame show on Thursday night and discussed the number of candidates who could get interviews with the Chicago Bears after the regular season ends. Among this group was former Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.
"Yes, Pete Carroll has an interest in the Bears job, but that's not the only one that he's looking at," Breer said. "I'm told that he's informed all of the teams with openings that he is looking to get back into coaching in 2025."
From TNF Tonight—breaking down the @ChicagoBears coaching search. pic.twitter.com/VQSDaP4Je6
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 27, 2024
Breer continued and confirmed that the interest is not solely on Carroll's side of the equation. He said that he has been told that the Bears are interested in sitting down with Carroll to discuss the head coach opening.
The Bears are not the only team with an opening. The Saints and Jets both fired their coaches midway through the NFL season. Other teams that could make changes after the season include the Giants, Raiders, and Titans.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will be in consideration for many teams considering the 13-2 record and several games with at least 40 points scored. The list of candidates will also include former Titans coach Mike Vrabel, Vikings quarterbacks coach Wes Phillips, and Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
One thing that Carroll has that these coaches don't is a Lombardi Trophy.
Carroll is currently an advisor for the Seahawks, the team he coached from 2010-23. He led the NFC West team to an overall record of 137-89-1 and 10 playoff appearances. The Seahawks reached the Super Bowl in 2013 and '14. They beat the Broncos in 2013 and lost to the Patriots in '14.
Carroll's NFL resume includes one season as head coach of the Jets (1994) and three seasons as head coach of the Patriots (1997-99). Carroll also spent nine years as head coach at the University of Southern California. His college tenure included seven Pac-10 championships, four Rose Bowl wins, and a BCS National Championship title.
