Pete Carroll to Vegas has impact on Broncos, Vance Joseph, Russell Wilson

The Las Vegas Raiders are bringing Pete Carroll to the AFC West as the newest head coach.

According to multiple reports, after a year out of the NFL, the longtime Seahawks leader will be landing the job in the desert.

That means the division is stacked, as Carroll joins Sean Payton with the Broncos, Andy Reid with the Chiefs and Jim Harbaugh with the Chargers.

Between the four of them, not only is each man at least 61-years-old, but their combined resumes are ridiculously good. The AFC West that Denver will try to win for the time since 2015 is loaded at the head-coaching position.

This has to be the most accomplished collection of coaches in a single division in football history

Andy Reid: 3 Super Bowl titles
Sean Payton: 1 Super Bowl title
Jim Harbaugh: 1 College National title
Pete Carroll: 1 Super Bowl title, 1 College National title https://t.co/ORET2k6sEw

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 24, 2025

And this hire also has implications for Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and former QB Russell Wilson.

For Joseph, it likes means he returns to Denver for year three in his current role. Joseph interviewed for both the Raiders and Jets head-coaching positions, but they went with Carroll and Aaron Glenn, respectively. After a great 2024 season with the Broncos (minus a poor December), Payton will likely welcome Joseph back with open arms.

Also, former Denver QB Russell Wilson might end up back in the division. The chatter has already begun that he and Carroll could have a reunion in Vegas, as Wilson is a free agent after one year with the Steelers. And the Raiders definitely need a new quarterback next season.

With Pete Carroll taking over the Raiders, one name I’ve heard to watch at QB: Russell Wilson.

They’ve mended fences, per source, and Wilson could be a stopgap while the Raiders develop a long-term answer.

— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) January 24, 2025

Now that would be wild. Wilson squaring off against Payton and the Broncos twice a year, with Carroll leading the way. Wilson’s two years in Denver aren’t fondly remembered by Broncos Country, and he would likely get booed in a return to Empower Field at Mile High.

It’s a fascinating hire by the Raiders with Pete Carroll. And in a lot of ways, it impacts the Broncos. How it all shakes out will be intriguing to watch.