Pete Carroll Salary Compared to Others for the Las Vegas Raiders

Speculation about Pete Carroll joining the Las Vegas Raiders—whether as a head coach, consultant, or executive—has sparked curiosity about his potential salary, especially when stacked against current NFL coaching contracts and the Raiders’ existing budget. Carroll, a Super Bowl-winning coach with a decades-long track record, commands a premium in the coaching market, but how would his pay align with other Raiders coaches, top-tier NFL peers, and even his own past earnings? Pete Carroll Salary Compared to Others for the Las Vegas Raiders breaks down these comparisons, exploring salary ranges, market factors, and what a Carroll hire would signal about the Raiders’ commitment to winning. For Raiders fans and analysts, this salary debate isn’t just about numbers—it’s about understanding the team’s priorities and the cost of competing for elite coaching talent.

Pete Carroll Salary Compared to Others for the Las Vegas Raiders begins with a baseline: Carroll’s most recent salary with the Seattle Seahawks, where he served as head coach from 2010 to 2023. Reports indicate Carroll earned approximately \(15 million per year in his final seasons with Seattle, a figure that placed him among the NFL’s top 10 highest-paid head coaches. This salary reflected his success—including a Super Bowl XLVIII win, two NFC championships, and 10 playoff appearances—and his dual role as team president (a title he held from 2013 onward). By comparison, the average NFL head coach salary in 2024 is around \)8 million per year, with entry-level coaches earning \(5–7 million and established winners commanding \)12–20 million. “Carroll’s Seattle salary set a high bar because he delivered both on-field success and organizational stability,” said Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, a leading expert on NFL contracts. “Any team looking to hire him—including the Raiders—would have to meet or exceed that $15 million baseline, especially given his reputation and experience.” This baseline helps frame the conversation: a Carroll salary with the Raiders would likely far exceed the league average and put him in the upper echelon of coaching pay.

Pete Carroll Salary Compared to Others for the Las Vegas Raiders continues with a direct comparison to Josh McDaniels, the Raiders’ current head coach (as of 2024). McDaniels signed a four-year contract with the Raiders in 2022, reportedly worth \(10–12 million per year—a figure consistent with mid-tier NFL head coaches (those with playoff experience but no Super Bowl wins). If the Raiders were to replace McDaniels with Carroll, they would face a significant salary jump: Carroll’s expected \)15–18 million per year would represent a 30–80% increase over McDaniels’ current pay. This difference reflects the coaches’ respective resumes: McDaniels has just one playoff appearance (with the Denver Broncos in 2009) and a career .452 winning percentage, while Carroll boasts a .578 career winning percentage, a Super Bowl title, and a proven ability to build sustained success. “The salary gap between McDaniels and Carroll isn’t just about name recognition—it’s about track record,” said NFL salary cap analyst Joel Corry. “Owners pay for results, and Carroll has delivered them for over a decade. The Raiders would be paying a premium for that proven success.” For the Raiders, this salary increase would also require adjusting their budget, potentially reallocating funds from other areas (like assistant coaches or front-office roles) to accommodate Carroll’s contract.

Pete Carroll Salary Compared to Others for the Las Vegas Raiders includes a comparison to top-tier NFL head coaches, the “elite” group that commands \(15–25 million per year. This group includes Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs, \)25 million), Bill Belichick (New England Patriots, \(20 million), and Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams, \)18 million)—all Super Bowl-winning coaches with long histories of success. Carroll would fit comfortably in this tier, with his salary likely landing between \(15–18 million per year (slightly below Reid and Belichick but on par with McVay). The difference in pay within this elite group often depends on dual roles: Reid and Belichick have significant front-office authority (e.g., final say on roster decisions), which boosts their salaries. If the Raiders offered Carroll a similar dual role (e.g., head coach + executive vice president), his salary could climb to \)18–20 million, aligning with Belichick. For the Las Vegas Raiders, this comparison is critical: hiring Carroll would mean paying elite-coach money, which comes with elite expectations (immediate playoff contention, potential Super Bowl runs). “When you pay $15+ million for a coach, you’re not just hiring a game-day leader—you’re hiring a franchise builder,” Corry noted. “The Raiders would be signaling they’re ready to compete for a championship, not just a playoff spot.”

Pete Carroll Salary Compared to Others for the Las Vegas Raiders delves into comparisons with other recent Raiders head coaches, providing context for the franchise’s historical spending on the position. Before McDaniels, the Raiders hired Jon Gruden in 2018 for a then-record 10-year, \(100 million contract (\)10 million per year)—a deal that was widely criticized as overpriced after Gruden’s resignation in 2021. Prior to Gruden, Jack Del Rio earned approximately \(7 million per year (2015–2017), while Dennis Allen made \)4–5 million per year (2012–2014). A Carroll salary of $15–18 million would be the highest in Raiders history, surpassing Gruden’s contract by 50–80%. This increase reflects the NFL’s rising coaching salaries (the league’s salary cap has grown 40% since 2018) and Carroll’s superior resume to past Raiders coaches. “The Raiders have a history of spending on head coaches, but Carroll would be a different level,” said Florio. “Gruden’s contract was a gamble on a coach returning to the NFL after a decade in broadcasting; Carroll’s would be a bet on a coach who’s still at the top of his game.” For the Las Vegas Raiders, this historical context matters: fans and analysts would judge the Carroll hire against past expensive coaching moves, expecting better results than Gruden’s short-lived tenure.

Pete Carroll Salary Compared to Others for the Las Vegas Raiders wraps up with a comparison to NFL assistant coaches and coordinators, highlighting the “value” of a head coach like Carroll. Top NFL offensive/defensive coordinators earn \(2–5 million per year (e.g., Eric Bieniemy, Chiefs offensive coordinator, \)4 million; Vic Fangio, Dolphins defensive coordinator, $3.5 million). Even the highest-paid assistants earn less than half of what Carroll would command as head coach. This gap underscores the importance of the head coach role: while coordinators design game plans, head coaches set the team’s culture, manage the staff, and make critical in-game decisions that often determine wins and losses. For the Raiders, the decision to hire Carroll (and pay his salary) would be a choice to invest in leadership rather than cost-cutting. “You can hire a cheap head coach and spend on coordinators, but that rarely works in the NFL,” Corry explained. “The head coach is the face of the franchise, and elite ones like Carroll justify their salary by making everyone around them better.” For the Las Vegas Raiders, this comparison also ties to fan expectations: paying Carroll’s salary would raise the bar for the team, with fans expecting playoff appearances and potential championships in exchange for the premium pay. In the end, Pete Carroll Salary Compared to Others for the Las Vegas Raiders is a story of value and expectations. Carroll’s salary would be a significant investment for the Raiders, but one that aligns with elite NFL standards and his proven track record. Whether the Raiders are willing to make that investment depends on their goals—and whether they believe Carroll is the right coach to return the franchise to its winning legacy.