On Monday, Pete Carroll participated in his introductory press conference as the new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, where he was pleasantly surprised by the appearance of former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, who played a key role in Carroll’s success in Seattle. Joined by Raiders general manager John Spytek, Carroll addressed the media for the first time, with Lynch being the most enthusiastic fan present.
As Spytek began his remarks, Lynch was seen engaging in conversation with Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Once Carroll started speaking, Lynch settled in to enjoy the press conference but soon made his presence felt by exuberantly shouting “RAAIIIDERS!” from the back of the room, eliciting a humorous reaction from Carroll.
“There ya go, there ya go,” Carroll replied to Lynch’s spirited chant, which resonated throughout the venue. “Hey Mark (Davis), settle down a little bit.”
“RAAIIIDERS!”
Safe to say there is some enthusiasm at @PeteCarroll‘s introductory press conference as the @Raiders new head coach 😂 pic.twitter.com/ERc6olCJc7
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 27, 2025
Lynch’s connection with Carroll is evident from their seven seasons together with the Seahawks. What some may overlook is that Lynch also played for the Raiders, his childhood team, for two seasons before retiring after the 2019 season. It’s clear that the ever-enthusiastic Lynch is thrilled about Carroll leading the team he has long supported.
Moreover, Lynch isn’t the only former NFL star excited about Carroll’s new role in Las Vegas. Raiders part-owner and Fox color analyst Tom Brady appears to have significantly influenced Carroll’s hiring. During his introductory press conference, Carroll acknowledged Brady’s impact multiple times, calling it a “great move” by Raiders owner Mark Davis to involve him in the decision-making process.
