Ryan McFadden
HENDERSON, Nev. — Pete Carroll's vitality was in overdrive throughout Las Vegas Raiders minicamp.
Decked out in a white long-sleeve shirt, grey sweats and a Raiders hat, the first-year Las Vegas coach turned the crew's stretching interval right into a wrestling match when he snuck up on 6-foot-6, 328-pound offensive lineman Thayer Munford Jr.
“I pinned him,” Carroll stated.
Pete Carroll tried pinning down @Raiders OT Thayer Munford 😭
(through @nickwalt) pic.twitter.com/Qh9FP28AqB
— NFL (@NFL) June 5, 2025
He later tried claiming one other sufferer: 284-pound defensive sort out Tonka Hemingway. Nonetheless, the rookie refused to budge towards Carroll's model of “the Folks's Elbow.”
The 73-year-old did not cease there. He threw the soccer round throughout particular groups drills and would sometimes race the defensive backs to 1 nook of the sector earlier than the beginning of the person interval.
Every day served as a reminder that he didn't have to match his gamers' vitality and energy — they needed to match his. A yr away from soccer did nothing to gradual him down. Neither did the blazing warmth the crew practiced beneath, a 106-degree common throughout minicamp.
“It is acquired to be some sort of drug on the market or one thing,” broad receiver Jakobi Meyers stated. “He is acquired lots of vitality, man.”
Carroll was employed in February to do extra than simply assist Las Vegas change into a profitable membership. Another excuse behind his return to teaching after 14 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks was to instill a tradition that Las Vegas may keep on for years to come back.
Practically six months into his tenure, Carroll's influence within the constructing is palpable. On days they should report in, gamers say they're excited to rise up at 5 a.m. and get to the power. They're even utilizing Carroll's favourite time period — “compete” — any likelihood they get.
“You may't have a terrific crew with out nice teammates,” Carroll stated. “There's an entire constructing course of to getting that performed, and a part of that's participating in no matter we ask them to do, as wild as it might be or nuts as they might suppose it's.”
After all, spirited teaching would not assure immediate wins. However his strategy has breathed new life into a corporation in want of an enormous turnaround.
“We try to ascertain a method to do issues round right here,” common supervisor John Spytek stated.
“We try to ascertain what it means to be a Raider.”
DARIEN PORTER HAD a “pinch-me second” at rookie minicamp in early Might.
Rising up, he was a fan of Carroll's USC groups that featured Heisman Trophy winners Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart. And whereas the third-round cornerback participated in particular person drills with the remainder of the defensive backs, Carroll — whom Porter knew from his TV display screen rising up — was proper within the center together with his soccer gloves on, backpedaling and offering press protection tricks to the defensive backs.
“He is on the market engaged on his press. It is humorous, however I actually admire it,” stated Porter, who spent six seasons at Iowa State.
“He is my head coach within the NFL, and I grew up watching USC, so it is simply loopy.”
A key part to the gamers shopping for into Carroll's philosophies early has been the respect that they had for the coach earlier than he donned the Silver and Black.
From main USC to 4 Rose Bowl victories and two nationwide titles to profitable a Tremendous Bowl with Seattle and quarterback Russell Wilson, Carroll's observe document of success has many gamers starstruck by his presence.
The phrases “legend” or “legendary” have been continuously used to explain their head coach.
“To have the ability to play for him, that is simply one other dream come true,” Raiders rookie broad receiver Jack Bech stated.
When Carroll speaks, they absorb each phrase, particularly the defensive backs who admire Carroll's work with the Legion of Growth.
Beginning security Isaiah Pola-Mao stated it has been a distinct expertise with Carroll as a result of he has by no means had a head coach as hands-on with the defensive backs.
“However I adore it,” Pola-Mao stated. “Pete's legendary. Studying from him, he is aware of what it is imagined to seem like. I am simply studying, listening and attempting to take all of it in.”
THE RAIDERS' PRACTICE antics reached new heights on the ultimate day of minicamp.
After the crew stretched, a member of the gear workers was inside an inflatable ball, zorbing back and forth whereas gamers zigzagged and high-stepped between obstacles.
It is getting ROWDY in Vegas 🤣#Raiders defensive assistant Rip Rowan ripped off his shirt and introduced the vitality to begin follow at Day 2 of minicamp. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/sxhwds280O
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) June 11, 2025
Carroll has employed inventive strategies to ignite the gamers' aggressive spirit. Beginning heart Jackson Powers-Johnson stated the crew has had area aim kicking competitions, has performed cornhole and has basketball courts across the facility, permitting Carroll to point out off his bounce shot in entrance of gamers.
The plastic bubble, nonetheless, wasn't deliberate, Carroll stated.
Rollin' with the homies 😎 pic.twitter.com/E71vGS8el7
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) June 12, 2025
“We're having probably the most enjoyable time in soccer that we have ever had, and that begins with him,” Powers-Johnson stated. “… He would not have a nasty day. And it is infectious vitality that is been placed on us.”
For All-Professional punter AJ Cole, the change of tempo would possibly've been wanted. Cole stated the franchise has seen some darkish moments over the previous few years.
Since Cole joined the crew in 2019 as an undrafted free agent, the Raiders have compiled a regular-season document of 43-57, made one playoff look and cycled by 4 head coaches (Jon Gruden, Josh McDaniels, Antonio Pierce and Carroll).
“It has been tough. We have misplaced lots of video games, greater than we must always have,” Cole stated.
However Carroll has made Cole optimistic concerning the future. That was one of many causes he signed a four-year, $15.8 million contract extension to stay in Las Vegas.
“To be fully trustworthy with you, I have not been this excited to come back to work in a very very long time,” Cole stated.
Star defensive finish Maxx Crosby, who has been a Raider since he was drafted in 2019, described the 2024 season as “one of many hardest years” in his life. He by no means felt like himself after sustaining an ankle damage within the Raiders' win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. Ultimately, Crosby underwent season-ending ankle surgical procedure, forcing him to overlook the ultimate 4 video games.
The Raiders completed 4-13 — marking the second time in three years with double-digit losses — and Crosby, as soon as once more, watched one other coach (Pierce) get handed a pink slip.
From the second he attended Carroll's introductory information convention in February, Crosby has not allowed himself to dwell on the franchise's previous failures. In the course of the offseason, he stated, he wakened each morning on the break of day, enthusiastic to assault the day. Crosby stated the vitality inside the constructing has been a supply of gasoline. He even admired how Carroll pushed him and the remainder of the crew to be one of the best model of themselves.
“He is true to that. It isn't faux vitality,” Crosby stated. “And it is not simply him, it is the assistant coaches, the entire constructing. It simply feels totally different.
” … Pete creates that tradition the place everybody is aware of it is laborious. You are going to work your ass off, however you have acquired an entire group and a corporation of individuals that each one acquired to be on the identical wavelength and go in the identical course. That is one of many hardest issues you could possibly do.”
JOHN GLENN IS all too accustomed to Carroll's methods of creating crew tradition. Earlier than Glenn joined the Raiders' workers as a linebackers coach this offseason, he spent 12 seasons in a number of roles on Carroll's Seahawks workers.
Outdoors of Carroll's zealous character, Glenn — who spent final season because the assistant particular groups coach for the Washington Commanders — stated the San Francisco native finds a method to relate to anybody he comes throughout.
“He is an unimaginable human … simply the way in which he is in a position to join with the coordinators to the place coach to the [quality control coach],” Glenn stated. “It is by no means been, ‘Oh my gosh, it is the top coach. Do not discuss to him.' He is at all times participating [and] has time for you.”
Glenn added that Carroll's philosophy about competitors transcends the soccer area. Carroll is requiring his workers to compete not simply within the sport however in all facets of their lives.
Raiders beginning left sort out Kolton Miller has watched Carroll push the coaches simply as laborious because the gamers. Miller believes that is what units Carroll other than the remaining.
“That is what he excels in,” Miller stated.
“Am I competing to be a very good husband? Am I competing to be a very good father? Am I competing to be a very good citizen in the neighborhood? All of it transcends,” Glenn added. “Whenever you actually purchase into it, that is the key sauce.”
Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham stated being round Carroll has been helpful for his development as a coach. Graham, coming into his fourth season with the Raiders, has been proud of the chance to debate totally different concepts with Carroll.
Graham has even been a sponge every time he watches Carroll instruct the defensive backs.
“I imply, why would not you pay attention?” Graham stated. “… We're watching a grasp trainer working. That is helpful for us.”
When the Raiders wrapped up their offseason program and entered a monthlong break forward of coaching camp, it appeared evident that Carroll had the crew absolutely invested within the tradition he is attempting to foster.
Certain, on paper, the Raiders are maybe miles away from their AFC West counterparts. There are a handful of questions surrounding the expertise on the roster, which will not be answered till the season begins.
However Carroll has this group believing the problems which have plagued this franchise are within the rearview mirror.
“[Carroll] believes you probably have a crystal-clear imaginative and prescient of what you wish to get achieved, and you may get a gaggle of individuals to do the identical factor, then good issues are going to occur,” offensive coordinator Chip Kelly stated. “He is acquired this crew believing.”
