Russell Wilson, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ soon-to-be free agent quarterback, has recently been the subject of much speculation, including rumours of a reunion with his former head coach, Pete Carroll. After taking a year off from the NFL after leaving the Seattle Seahawks after 14 years as Head Coach and VP of Football Operations, Carroll was recently hired as the Las Vegas Raiders’ next head coach. With Wilson.
Tomlin has a 183-107-2 (.630) record as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers dating back to 2007, whereas Carroll had a 137-89-1 (.606) record with the Seahawks over 14 seasons—similar statistics. According to Wilson, the similarities don’t end there. Wilson, who joined Cam Heyward on the Not Just Football Podcast this week with his wife Ciara, discussed what attributes make Carroll and Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin so similar – and enjoyable to work for.
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“Peter Carroll and Mike Tomlin are two of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with. Those men are incredible motivators and communicators; it’s just a different breed. It’s like sitting with Coach Tomlin and hearing about his meetings, process, and approach. “He’s the first one there early in the mornings, and it’s amazing to watch Coach Tomlin go through his process,” Wilson said.
“I believe Coach Carroll feels the same way, you know,” Wilson concluded. “He just enjoys the game. He adores people. He will be 73 years old, sprinting around, chewing gum, and throwing go-balls down the sideline. And on Fridays, he’ll be doing red zone versus the defence, most likely while the offence is on the opposite side. That is how he processes.”
“What I find interesting about two famous instructors is that their accomplishment leaves clues. I believe that a large part of it is just how they conduct business, digest information, and elevate others. You know what you’re going to get: Coach Carroll’s consistency and approach, his philosophy. He has one, and I believe he does a great job of it. Coach Tomlin is certainly on my mind as well. “Those guys are great motivators and processors.”
There’s no doubt that Tomlin’s ability to motivate (and pique the interest of players from around the league who want to play for him) has contributed to his long-term success in Pittsburgh, and, ultimately, the fact that he’s still in the position of head coach despite a playoff-win drought that dates back to the 2016 season.
The only question now is: Who NFL head coach will Wilson play for in 2025 and beyond? If not Tomlin or Carroll, where might Wilson look for the next best fit?
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