Russell Wilson The Instigator Behind Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll Being Fired? QB Denies
The Denver Broncos quarterback later denied making such a claim on social media, but a story from The Athletic on Friday claimed that Russell Wilson sought Pete Carroll’s dismissal before leaving Seattle.
Russell Wilson The Instigator Behind Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll Being Fired? QB Denies
According to the report, Wilson asked Seahawks ownership in February 2022 to fire Carroll and general manager John Schneider with hopes that the team would hire Sean Payton to be the coach.
In his denial, Wilson tweeted Friday morning that Carroll “was a father figure to me” and that Schneider “believed in me and drafted me as well.”
Russell Wilson is denying a report that he tried to get Pete Carroll fired: “All any of us wanted was to win” pic.twitter.com/HMU5XSww5n
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 24, 2023
“I never wanted them fired. All any of us wanted was to win,” Wilson wrote. “I’ll always have respect for them and love for Seattle.”
Wilson’s attorney called the claim “totally false” and refuted it. To The Athletic, the Seahawks declined to comment.
The strained connection between Wilson and the Seahawks over his ten years in Seattle was previously covered by ESPN, with insiders describing a dysfunctional environment that eventually reached its breaking point and ESPN reported in September that the team had been considering Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes as quarterback alternatives before the latter two were selected by the Chiefs and Bills, respectively, in 2017 and 2018.
Bombshell: Russell Wilson asked #Seahawks ownership to fire coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider last year, sources told @TheAthletic
The team instead traded him to the #Broncos https://t.co/p6F8s9YFly pic.twitter.com/tLKOlQYFTX
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 24, 2023
In the end, Wilson was dealt to the Broncos in March for a package that included a number of first- and second-round selections and quarterback Drew Lock, Geno Smith’s backup when the Seahawks advanced to the 2022 playoffs.
Wilson received a five-year, $245 million deal from the Broncos after the trade, with $165 million of that amount guaranteed. Nevertheless, they faltered to a 5-12 record in 2022, which resulted in the dismissal of first-year coach Nathaniel. But they stumbled to a 5-12 season in 2022 that led to the firing of first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett and the bringing in of Payton as his replacement.
Russell Wilson Reportedly Tried To Get Pete Carroll AND John Schneider Fired In Seattle Before His Trade To The Broncos https://t.co/VuMj4Mubml pic.twitter.com/SES7dotZmG
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 24, 2023
Since then, the Broncos have recruited Payton to take over for Hackett, and the Super Bowl champion coach has already started laying the basis for organisational reforms. Wilson won’t be allowed to bring Jake Heaps, his personal quarterback coach, or any other outside people into the stadium, unlike last year.
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