The Seattle Seahawks opted to part ways with longtime head coach Pete Carroll this offseason after 14 years with the organization, which was a move that certainly made headlines. And even months later, it seems like there are still members of the team that are not thrilled with the decision.
The move came as a bit of a surprise at the time simply because the Seahawks didn’t have all that bad of a season, finishing just outside of the playoff picture with a 9-8 record on the year.
Regardless, the team opted to move in another direction, hiring former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike McDonald as his replacement.
Carrol has had a big impact on countless Seahawks players over the years. But perhaps none bigger than current starting quarterback Geno Smith, famously giving him a chance to start two seasons ago which completely revitalized his career.
Naturally, Smith admitted in a recent interview that he is still upset with Carroll’s departure.
“That day is a day I’ll probably remember forever, just because of how things happened for me here,” Smith said of the day Carroll was fired via NFL.com. “Obviously, Coach Carroll is a big influence on my career. Helped me out a bunch when I came to this organization. Really helped me, thrust me into the spotlight that I’m in now. For me, it was kind of a terrible moment to see someone that I love so much, having to part ways with him. But that’s the way of the NFL. That’s the way things go.”
Smith did add that he is “excited” about working with McDonald this coming season, which is obviously great to hear. But it seems quite clear that he would perhaps prefer to still have Carroll in town.
It’s hard to blame him in all honesty. Without Carroll, Smith may still be a journeyman backup in the NFL instead of being the long-term starter on the Seahawks.
[NFL.com]
