Did Russell Wilson try to get head coach Pete Carroll fired when he played for the Seattle Seahawks?
Did the star QB have some less than savory communiques with Seahawks management about his then head coach, we’re taking a look at what’s been said.
Just a year ago, the rumor mill was firing on all cylinders regarding the Seattle Seahawks and their then quarterback, Russell Wilson. Indeed, the word on the street was that the Super Bowl winning signal caller wanted to explore other options, even though he insisted that he wanted to stay in Seattle. Ultimately it looks like both were true.
Russell Wilson wanted Seahawks head coach and GM fired
According to recent reports, when playing with the Seattle Seahawks back in February of 2022, Russell Wilson asked the franchise’s ownership to fire both head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider. Having clashed on multiple occasion with Carroll over his role in the offense as well as the direction that the franchise wanted to go in, Wilson became convinced that the pair were preventing him from adding more Super Bowl trophies to his cabinet, as well as individual accolades.
What has Russell Wilson said?
It wasn’t long before Wilson’s lawyer responded to the new report, saying that the idea that Wilson called for the dismissal of both Caroll and Schneider is “entirely fabricated.” Wilson himself, then took to twitter where he spoke openly about his relationship with both men. “I love Pete and he was a father figure to me and John believed in me and drafted me as well. I never wanted them fired. All any of us wanted was to win. I’ll always have respect for them and love for Seattle.” He then followed up his tweet with another in which he stated, “Focused on moving forward! Best is ahead.”
What happened between Russell Wilson and the Seahawks?
As you surely know, Wilson did eventually leave Seattle for the Denver Broncos in a March 2022 trade which saw a number of a pieces move in the opposite direction. They included a 2022 first-round pick, a 2023 first-rounder, two 2023 second-rounders and a fifth-round pick along with two players - Drew Lock and Noah Fant. There was also the small matter of his massive $245 million extension to be agreed before he even threw a pass for his new team.
Ultimately, what was meant to be a match made in heaven with Denver’s new head coach Nathaniel Hackett and a new QB and former Super Bowl winner in Wilson, ended in complete disaster for the Broncos. With a 5-12 recorded, Wilson literally played the worst season of his entire career. To make matters worse, Hackett was fired on Boxing Day following a 51-14 loss to the free-falling Los Angeles Rams. By contrast, the Seahawks seemed to have a new lease on life with Wilson in the middle, clinching a playoff spot on the back of impressive performances from quarterback, Geno Smith. Indeed, Smith went from backup to NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Is it a case of ‘All’s well that ends well?’ for Russell Wilson?
One of the interesting things about the report that alleges Wilson asked for Carroll’s firing is the idea that it also suggests that Wilson had a replacement in mind: Sean Payton. If that’s the case then the irony can’t be lost that Payton is now in fact the Bronco’s new head coach. If you missed it, Denver coughed up its 2023 first-round pick along with a 2024 second-round pick as well as a 2024 third-round pick in exchange for Payton’s rights. The former New Orleans Saints coach is without doubt one of the best offensive minds in the game today. Could it be the start of a revival for Wilson and Co. We imagine the QB will certainly be hoping so.