Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby reacted to the team’s decision to dismiss coach Pete Carroll on Monday during the latest episode of the Let’s Go! podcast. Crosby said he learned of the move while at the team facility and watching it appear on television, calling the moment “kind of gloomy.” He praised Carroll’s long coaching résumé — including a Super Bowl title and a national championship at USC — and said the coach treated him well and that their relationship will continue. Crosby also acknowledged the season fell far short of expectations and said the organization must return to the process of rebuilding.
- Pete Carroll was fired by the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, a move announced publicly via team and media channels.
- Maxx Crosby learned of the decision while at the Raiders’ facility and described the atmosphere as “gloomy.”
- Crosby highlighted Carroll’s career achievements: a Super Bowl championship and a college title at USC.
- The Raiders hold a top draft position after a disappointing season, with team performance cited as a key reason for the coaching change.
- Las Vegas used a top-10 pick on running back Ashton Jeanty, a choice critics say reflected a misread of roster priorities.
- Since appearing in Super Bowl XXXVII, the franchise has made only two playoff trips in the following 23 years.
- The AFC West remains highly competitive, complicating an immediate turnaround for the Raiders in 2026.
Background
The Raiders hired Pete Carroll with hopes his veteran leadership would steer a roster into playoff contention quickly. Carroll’s résumé — highlighted by a Super Bowl title and a national championship at USC — made him an attractive candidate for a franchise seeking stability and a winning culture. Expectations ramped up around the team entering the season, with front-office decisions signaling belief the roster was near-ready to compete. Those decisions included using premium draft capital on skill positions rather than prioritizing trenches and infrastructure.
Historically, the Raiders have struggled to sustain postseason success: the club has reached the playoffs just twice in the 23 years since its Super Bowl XXXVII appearance. The AFC West has also become more challenging, featuring multiple teams with deep rosters and strong coaching. That context made the margin for error slim, heightening scrutiny on both coaching decisions and roster construction when results lagged. For a franchise with sporadic playoff presence, missteps in evaluation can produce rapid organizational change.
Main Event
The firing was reported Monday and immediately reverberated through the locker room and league circles. Crosby described arriving at the team building and seeing the news flash on television, a moment he called difficult to process. On the Let’s Go! podcast with host Jim Gray, Crosby said Carroll had been consistently supportive of him personally and professionally, and that he wished the coach well. He stressed that players and coaches alike had hoped for a different outcome this season, but the results forced the organization to act.
Media coverage and team observers pointed to roster evaluation and personnel choices as central factors in the decision. One focal point was the selection of Ashton Jeanty with a top-10 pick; critics argue such a pick is typically a finishing piece, not the foundation of a rebuild. The franchise’s trajectory, and the gap between expected and actual performance, convinced ownership and management to change direction. Carroll’s long history in the league — with prior head-coaching stops in New York, New England and Seattle — framed the firing as the end of a well-traveled chapter.
The club now faces immediate operational tasks: appointing an interim leader, beginning a head-coach search, and reassessing roster priorities ahead of 2026. Players like Crosby signaled continuity in personal relationships with Carroll even as the team moves on. League analysts noted that the timing of the firing gives management the offseason window to reset personnel strategy and coaching philosophy. How quickly the Raiders can convert process changes into on-field improvement remains an open question.
Analysis & Implications
The decision to dismiss Carroll underscores how quickly expectations can shift in the NFL when results do not match preseason projections. Auctions of roster spots and the allocation of draft capital matter more in a compressed win-now environment; selecting a running back in the top 10 when foundational pieces remain thin is now being framed as an instance of strategic miscalculation. For the Raiders, the implication is clear: future drafts and free-agent moves likely must prioritize protection and core-unit strength before luxury upgrades.
Organizationally, firing a veteran coach like Carroll signals ownership’s low tolerance for underperformance and may reset internal timelines. The broader effect on coaching markets could be pronounced; Carroll’s dismissal may shrink the pool of top-tier, proven candidates available, or conversely, it could free experienced names to consider other openings. For the Raiders, the next hire will be judged on both short-term competence and long-term roster-building vision.
Economically, another coaching change brings near-term costs in search, contract terms, and potential staff turnover. But the larger financial stake is competitive performance: prolonged mediocrity depresses ticket sales, merchandise and local sponsorship value. A successful rebuild could reverse those trends, but the club faces stiff divisional competition in the AFC West, limiting margin for gradual recovery. Strategically, the franchise must balance immediate talent upgrades with sustainable roster construction.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Playoff appearances since Super Bowl XXXVII | 2 (in 23 years) |
| Top-10 draft selection in recent window | Ashton Jeanty (running back) |
Those figures illustrate the franchise’s long-term instability: only two postseason berths in the 23-year span following Super Bowl XXXVII. The decision to use a high pick on a running back now features in critiques that the team misread its roster’s readiness. In comparison, franchises that rebuild successfully often prioritize line play and quarterback protection before spending premium picks on complementary skill players. The data point does not prove causation but clarifies why critics label personnel choices as pivotal.
Reactions & Quotes
“I haven’t had time to really process it… I literally see it pop up on the TV. So it was kind of gloomy.”
Maxx Crosby, Let’s Go! podcast (Jim Gray)
“He has been an incredible coach, and he has had an incredible journey.”
Maxx Crosby, reflecting on Pete Carroll’s career
Those brief quotes from Crosby combine immediate emotional reaction with a measured appraisal of Carroll’s body of work. Media commentators picked up on the roster-evaluation critique, highlighting the Jeanty pick as emblematic of a broader misjudgment. Fan response was mixed online: some praised Carroll’s past achievements, others urged a comprehensive front-office reset. League analysts expect the head-coach search and draft strategy to dominate offseason coverage for the Raiders.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Pete Carroll will accept another NFL head-coaching role in the future remains unconfirmed and speculative at this stage.
- The internal deliberations and specific metrics that led the Raiders’ ownership to remove Carroll have not been fully disclosed publicly.
- The exact long-term plan for reallocating draft capital and salary-cap space following the firing is not yet announced.
Bottom Line
The Raiders’ decision to part ways with Pete Carroll marks a decisive shift after a season that fell well short of expectations. Maxx Crosby’s immediate reaction mixed personal gratitude with recognition that the team must rebuild, and his comments highlight the human side of abrupt organizational change. The roster-construction debate — epitomized by the Ashton Jeanty pick — will shape how fans and analysts assess management choices in the months ahead.
For Las Vegas, the path forward requires clarified priorities: invest in foundational positions, set a coherent timeline, and navigate a crowded AFC West. The offseason will test whether management can convert this reset into measurable progress by 2026, or whether the franchise remains mired in the inconsistency that has marked much of the past two decades. Close attention to the head-coach search and incoming personnel moves will indicate how seriously the club intends to alter course.