Seahawks’ success no surprise to Pete Carroll’s QB at USC, Carson Palmer
Jan 9, 2020, 12:00 AM
Carson Palmer played for Seahawks coach Pete Carroll at USC and against him in the NFL. (AP)
(AP)
It’s right around this time of year – after Black Monday, while the coaching carousel spins seemingly out of control – that the decades-old question bubbles to the surface again: Can a college coach successfully transition to the NFL?
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Perhaps as those who have made the transition see more success in the modern era, league owners will be less hesitant to take the chance.
Matt Rhule just signed a seven-year, $60 million contract with the Panthers after an almost exclusive college career – most of which was spent at Temple before a three-year stint at Baylor (2017-2019).
A year ago, it was Kliff Kingsbury who took over the Arizona Cardinals after being fired at Texas Tech.
One only has to look to Seattle as the prime example of transition gone right: Pete Carroll. But how?
Who better to give insight into Carroll’s decade of prosperity with the Seahawks than a quarterback who both played for him in college and competed against him in the pros?
Carson Palmer joined 710 ESPN Seattle’s Danny and Gallant on Wednesday, and almost 20 years after he and Carroll first met, Carson still sees the same coach who shepherded him to a Heisman at USC.
“I loved every second of it,” Palmer says of playing for Carroll. “I wish he got to USC earlier in my career. I learned a ton. He’s such a great motivator and obviously brilliant – that goes without being said.”
Watching Carroll from afar, Palmer marvels at his success – yet it doesn’t surprise him.
“He just brings a unique energy you don’t get in the NFL,” he explains. “You don’t get to experience great motivators and great speakers, which Pete is. What he’s done in Seattle is he’s transformed the organization, which is so difficult to do. I don’t think he gets enough credit.”
Moving from college coaching to the NFL is one thing, but professional teams are in constant transition themselves. The way Carroll has handled that isn’t lost on Palmer either.
“Starting the Legion of Boom, the Marshawn Lynch trade, breaking up the Legion of Boom – and now they’re a totally different team,” Palmer says. “The Legion of Boom is gone, but (the Seahawks are) right back in it and they’re a legit Super Bowl contender again. It’s been an amazing transformation for him to move that team over the last 10 years in the direction he has. You just don’t see that in the NFL in today’s day and age, but he’s done it.”
Perhaps the collegiate ranks offer some preparation, as there’s constant attrition due to graduation. but the Seahawks head coach is uniquely qualified, according to the three time Pro-Bowler.
“It’s difficult to replicate Pete, because Pete’s on all the time – it’s 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 12 months a year,” Palmer explains. “That’s just who he is – it naturally comes out of him. You can’t fabricate that, players are too smart, they sniff it out and they can’t relate to it when it’s fake. But with Pete, it’s real. It’s just who he is, that’s how he goes about his business. That’s how he coaches and teaches and directs an organization.”
As for Seattle’s potential this post-season, Palmer doesn’t see the Seahawks success slowing down. He’s uniquely qualified, just two years removed from retiring after five seasons of sharing a division with the Seahawks as the Arizona Cardinals QB.
“I really like Seattle going into Green Bay. I think they’re being overlooked because of the way they were seeded in the playoffs,” he says. “It’s going to be a great game, there’s no doubt about it. Russell (Wilson has) been so magical and so special – I can just see Seattle going into Green Bay and coming out with a win.”
Win or lose on Sunday, it’s hard to argue this season hasn’t been special for the Seahawks. Carroll rebuilt his team while taking it back to the postseason in 2018, and now it has a chance to head to the NFC Championship Game. The team has bought in, and anything is possible once again under Carroll.
Follow 710 ESPN Seattle’s Jessamyn McIntyre on Twitter.
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