Falcons May Go After Pete Carroll

According to ESPN.com, the Falcons are trying to secure an interview with Southern Cal head coach Pete Carroll for their own head coaching vacancy:

Multiple sources told ESPN.com late Tuesday night that the Falcons are pursuing Pete Carroll for an interview. If Carroll agrees, and the logistics can be arranged, the Southern California coach could huddle with Atlanta owner Arthur Blank by the weekend.

But sources said the Falcons might be willing to grant Carroll far-reaching responsibilities and that the USC coach, who could assemble a very strong staff, could be intrigued by the challenge of resurrecting a franchise that has been through a turbulent year and has become all but irrelevant on the Atlanta sports scene.

This is very interesting, because Atlanta is coming off a bad experience with Bobby Petrino, the former Louisville coach who bolted the Dirty Birds for Arkansas a month ago. You'd think that Blank would be a bit gun shy about hiring another college coach ... even one with Carroll's pedigree. It's also interesting to speculate why Carroll would leave a gravy job at USC for a massive rebuilding project in Atlanta. Sorry, No Photos

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

1-09-2008 @ 12:43AM

Gamecock Man said...

Let's see--Carrol can either stay in LA and remain the coach at a program that attracts five star like they're going out of style and competes for the
MNC virtually every year or he can leave for Atlanta to become the coach of one of the most ineptly-run franchises in professional sports. I'm going to say that he stays in LA. I could see him leaving one day for a job at a top-tier franchise, but he's just got it too good at USC to leave for a place like Atlanta.

1-09-2008 @ 12:57AM

Dr. Ethiopia said...

I think it might just work out. I hope they get him.
http://www.abesha.wordpress.com

1-09-2008 @ 1:26AM

Ed said...

There is no way Pete Carroll leaves USC for the Atlanta Falcons. That would be like moving out of a mansion to a one-bedroom apartment. The only way Pete Carroll leaves for a NFL head coaching job is if Bill Belichick suffers a major heart attack and NE is looking for a new coach or if one of those Bill Cowher/Marty Schottenheimer deals happen, where the coach retires or is fired, but leaves a good team behind.

1-09-2008 @ 1:27AM

Ace said...

Sorry but my sources say Carroll is waiting on BeliCHEAT to leave and he will be New Englands new coach.

1-09-2008 @ 3:12AM

Geraldo Cullen said...

The combination of personal machinations and new,
challenging opportunities in the NFL will lend some credence to the rumor that Pete (Coach) Carroll wants out of L.A. and USC. He has bigger fish to fry. He's that type of ego-centric individual. It's a good thing for his chosen profession.
Les Miles may be good for Atlanta when he matures!

1-09-2008 @ 3:18AM

Phatjulio said...

Carroll is not leaving USC. Granted that the Falcons will offer him a lot of money, Carroll keeps saying that he wants to stay in College football for good. Also, he's a key person in helping the communities around LA and is pretty much a king at USC. Why leave a powerhouse football program that wins its' conference every year Carroll has been around [with the exception of his first year] to a rebuilding NFL franchise that needs A LOT of work...

1-09-2008 @ 5:58AM

al coholic said...

Pete Carroll would be another short lived coach if he ever tried to make it in the NFL again. His last stint wasn't so hot. He's better off staying in LA, where he can drink lattes and pretend that he, and not the enormous pool of talent he gets thrown at him, is the reason for his success.

If I were writing the check for an NFL coach I would be looking for an experienced guy who worked his way up from the NFL coaching ranks like Singletary instead of trying to beat the odds with egotistical college coaches who seem to never pan out in the big league.

1-09-2008 @ 6:22AM

nickstoli said...

It amazes me that the NFL continues to make this same mistake over and over. Carroll is a great college coach. Hell, he may even be the best. But in two tries in the NFL, he proved himself to be a mediocre NFL coach at best.

What's next, some NBA team is going after Rick Pitino?

1-09-2008 @ 7:20AM

joe wallace said...

Carroll going back to NE? Fire your source, dude. LOL. If you remember, Petey was the coach of the Pats before he was fired and BB took over. Though they were a decent team under him, they were never serious Super Bowl contenders. To top it off, ex-players have nothing but bad things to say about him. His "Rah rah" stuff works in college, but he is in over his head in the pros. And you can be damned sure that he would never go to Atlanta, with an incompetent organization, and inmates that run the asylum.

1-09-2008 @ 8:11AM

delmasta4l said...

Are we all forgetting that Carroll has already failed at the NFL level and left with his tail tucked-in. The Falcons need to try to get Billick or a coach with positive experience in the NFL, not another coach who is better at teaching kids, than managing men.

1-09-2008 @ 8:27AM

herbie said...

the patriots wouldn't hire him again! he sucked in the NFL he is a great college coach but when he came to new england he inherited a good team just back from the superbowl and he sucked coaching them! i remember chanting go back to college at the pats vs philly in the vet 99 season and i doubt the pats ownership would ever hire him again he should stay where he is where he knows what he is doing at the college level!

1-09-2008 @ 8:33AM

Gary Young said...

Pom pom Pete's style doesn't cut it in the pros(see Rick Pitino).

1-09-2008 @ 8:41AM

Grogan said...

What's with the Carroll to NE talk? He failed there, as he did with the Jets. Pete is a two time NFL failure, silly hire for the Dirty Birds. He is in the best spot he could be, the man can recruit and motivate kids. Toss him in with the TO's of the sport and he fails, period.

1-09-2008 @ 8:46AM

Linda said...

I'm not impressed lately with college coaches going pro. Look at Sabin(Satin) and his mess he left in Miami and Spurrier. All left with there tail between there legs and went back to college. I can't stand Carroll and his choke move agains Dan Marino and the Dolphins years ago. He needs to stay in CA. He stinks as a pro coach. Nothing will change. Sucked before will suck again in the pros.

1-09-2008 @ 8:54AM

tmac said...

lol...well, its like this, some college coaches are like some college players, you may exale on the kids level but may not do as well on the grown folks level. pete, stay with the children. the kids need you.

1-09-2008 @ 9:27AM

Ferrari Bubba said...

For God's sake Pete, say it ain't so!

Fight On, Yer pal Ferrari Bubba

1-09-2008 @ 9:29AM

lfras1 said...

Pete loves a challenge, and remember, "money talks".

1-09-2008 @ 11:31AM

Frank Morgan said...

Rich McKay son of John McKay, former USC coach could convince Blank to look at Pete and Pete could use this situation to help leverage the Los Angeles Coliseum commission which is "dicking" around in regard to working out a lease and upgrades to the coliseum. Beyond that Urban Meyers and Charlie Weis will have to get around Pete in the recruiting arena and most certainly the national rankings.