Bill Belichick’s Clear 6-Word Message on Tom Brady Hiring Pete Carroll While Shutting Down Major Concern for Raiders

We get it, Las Vegas—you’re scratching your heads. The Raiders, under a 73-year-old Pete Carroll? Wait, no—wrong coach. But the decision to hand the keys to a veteran like him might start making sense when you realize who’s whispering in their ears: Tom Brady.

That’s right. The GOAT might not be suiting up anymore, but his fingerprints are all over this one. And why not? Trust is everything, and Brady built his empire on it. Remember how he turned Bill Belichick into an even “better coach”? That’s not us hyping it up; Big Bill admitted as much.

Speaking of Belichick, he chimed in on Brady’s behind-the-scenes magic during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “Tom Brady is a really smart guy… Whatever his involvement was in this hiring, I’m sure it was positive,” Belichick said. Translation? Brady’s chess game continues, and the Raiders should be all in.

But one thing to note is this Pete Carroll hiring is very much out of the blue… The Raiders initially went after Lions OC Ben Johnson, but he chose the Bears instead. No biggie. Brady wasn’t looking to gamble on a rookie head coach, anyway. More like he changed the game plan. I mean, adapting has always been Brady’s friend. “There’s such a jigsaw puzzle when you look at a lot of different organizations,” he said about finding the right fit. “It’s about great people doing great things, working collaboratively, being humble, learning every year.”

That mindset led to their pivot to someone proven!

Carroll’s resume speaks for itself. Remember when he took over a 5-11 Seahawks team in 2010? By his fourth season, they were Super Bowl champs. So, he’s not just a coach. He gets the culture, the fans, and their demands, and act accordingly. For a team that finished 4-13 last season? That’s gold.

Brady knows firsthand the value of a coach who can manage the bigger picture while elevating every piece on the board. Yes! Big Bill, indeed. So, now, with Carroll on board, the Raiders are signaling they’re ready to compete now, not years from now. Guess that’s why Belichick is also on-board with this move. (As if his disapproval would have changed the reality, eh?)

Bill Belichick shouldn’t be the one saying ‘Age doesn’t matter!’

Let’s start with the obvious—Bill Belichick talking about age not being an issue? That’s rich. The same guy whose late-career struggles had Patriots Nation ready to riot. Six Lombardis, a dynasty built brick by brick, and yet, the post-Brady blues hit so hard even Big Bill couldn’t escape.

So, if Bill Belichick can fall, anyone can.

But the numbers don’t lie. Four seasons without Tom Brady, one playoff appearance, zero postseason wins, and a 4-13 season to cap it off. Belichick’s system? Outdated. Draft picks? Questionable. And Robert Kraft? Let’s just say patience wasn’t in his game plan anymore. So, it was time for the Patriots and their legendary coach to part ways.

But why is Belichick now singing Pete Carroll’s praises? “Pete Carroll has a ton of energy, and age is just a number,” he said, pointing out that the Raiders might have hit the jackpot. Keyword? This year. Nobody’s pretending a 73-year-old Carroll is a long-term solution. However, for Tom Brady and the Raiders? It’s about making waves in the AFC West now.

Meanwhile, hiring Carroll means Vegas went from trusting a rookie coach like Antonio Pierce to a Hall of Famer. Pierce, for all his grit, had zero experience beyond linebackers coach. Carroll? Eighteen NFL seasons, a Super Bowl, an NCAA championship, and defenses that hit like freight trains. This guy doesn’t rebuild; he reloads.

Can Carroll’s old-school-but-effective approach thrive in Vegas? Teams like the Eagles and Ravens are proving power runs and mid-range passes are back in style. Add in Brady’s words—“You’re always trying to up your game every year.”—and you get the picture.

This year’s level-up for the Raiders is Pete Carroll. That’s the play. And trust me, nobody plays to lose in Sin City.