Wilson says Carroll and Tomlin are two of the best coaches he’s ever worked with.
There’s been plenty of talk about Pittsburgh Steelers/soon-to-be-free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson as of late, including rumors of a potential reunion with his former head coach Pete Carroll. After taking a year off from the NFL after departing the Seattle Seahawks after a 14-year tenure as Head Coach and VP of Football Ops, Carroll was recently hired as the new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. With Wilson
Tomlin has held a 183-107-2 (.630) record as head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers dating back to 2007, while Carroll held a 137-89-1 (.606) record over 14 seasons with the Seahawks — similar results. And that’s not where the similarities lie, Wilson says. Joining Cam Heyward on the Not Just Football Podcast this week with his wife Ciara, Wilson shared what qualities have made Carroll and Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin so similar — and great to work under.
“Two of the greatest coaches I’ve ever been around are Pete Carroll and Mike Tomlin. Those guys are unbelievable motivators and communicators, and, I mean, it’s just a different breed. It’s like, sitting there with Coach Tomlin and listening to his meetings and, you know, his process and how he goes about it. He’s the first one there early in the mornings, you know, it’s amazing to watch Coach Tomlin do his process,” Wilson shared.
“I think with Coach Carroll, he’s the same way, you know,” Wilson continued. “He just loves the game. He loves people. He’s going to be 73 years old, running around, chewing gum and throwing go-balls down the sideline. And on Fridays, he’s going to be doing the red zone against the defense, probably while the offense is on the other side. That’s how he processes.”
“I think that what’s amazing about two legendary coaches in itself is their success leaves clues. I think a lot of it, a big part of it, is just how they go about their business and how they process and they uplift everyone. You know what you’re gonna get — the consistency of Coach Carroll and his approach, his philosophy, he has a philosophy, and I think he does a really good job of that. I think of Coach Tomlin, obviously, the same way. Those guys are tremendous motivators and processors.”
There’s no doubt that Tomlin’s ability to motivate (and draw in the interest of players from around the league who would like to play for him) has played into his long-term success in Pittsburgh, and ultimately, the fact that he’s still standing in the real of head coach despite a playoff-win drought extending all the way back to the 2016 season.
Now, the only question is — which NFL head coach will Wilson be playing for in 2025 and beyond? If it’s not Tomlin or Carroll, where might Wilson find the next best fit?