NFL analyst opens door to Pete Carroll joining Super Bowl contender

Pete Carroll had been sitting forgotten in the background as 32 NFL coaches made their bids toward extending their tenure into 2025. However, as is now clear, less than 32 coaches will finish the season, with even fewer of them likely to coach into 2025.

As many claimed that Bill Belichick would fit one of those holes, he instead threw the league a curveball by ditching the NFL altogether. Now, analysts are scrambling to figure out who the next heavyweight candidate could be. And Carroll is rounding into shape.

Writing in Saturday's article for Pro Football Talk, NFL analyst Mike Florio refused to endorse the move, naming a Super Bowl contender instead.

"Despite a 13-4 season, Sirianni has become a 100-1 afterthought in the betting for coach of the year. ... Beyond Belichick, there could be other candidates. Thanks to a Christmas Day Splash! report, we now know Pete Carroll wants to back in. Chicago, in our view, isn’t a good fit. Philadelphia could be," he wrote.

Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni has been in the crosshairs of many sports talk shows over the last 14 months. Between the 2023 second-half implosion and his struggles to maintain composure at times this season, a general manager asking where he can upgrade might center in on the coach.

It would be far from an unprecedented move. At the height of the Peyton Manning era in Denver, general manager John Elway fired John Fox, inserting Gary Kubiak instead.

Exploring additional potential Pete Carroll landing spots

Pete Carroll at Seattle Seahawks vs. Tennessee Titans - Source: Getty

The former Seattle Seahawks coach has plenty of accomplishments to throw on a resume, including working as one of only three coaches to get to back-to-back Super Bowls since 2012.

This, plus Geno Smith's struggles without him, have given the coach a strong case. As such, seemingly many landing spots are suitable.

One potential landing spot could be the New York Jets. At this point, Sean Payton has proved that getting a brand-name coach after a year off is worth the risk, with the Denver Broncos now clinching their first winning season since 2016.

Another potential landing spot could be the Dallas Cowboys. Mike McCarthy's contract still has not been renewed, despite him making a strong last-ditch case with Cooper Rush.

The New Orleans Saints, by hiring Dennis Allen, tipped their cap that they were interested in getting a defensive-minded coach. Carroll would fill that need.