The Seattle Seahawks find themselves in an uncertain position at quarterback heading into the 2025 season.
On one hand, the team appears poised to give Geno Smith another year under center following a 4,320-yard, 23-touchdown campaign. However, his struggles—highlighted by 15 interceptions in 2024 and back-to-back seasons without a playoff berth—have raised concerns among fans.
With the Seahawks likely out of range to draft top QB prospects Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, their best course of action may be to let Smith play out the final year of his deal. That is unless they decide to explore the free-agent market in March.
Among the available quarterbacks is former Seattle icon Russell Wilson. However, despite his past success with the franchise, many NFL executives don’t view him as a clear upgrade over Smith, making a return to the Seahawks unlikely.
Could Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll Reunite?
Instead, Wilson has been linked to his former coach, Pete Carroll, who is now leading the Las Vegas Raiders.
NFL insider James Palmer of Underdog Fantasy recently suggested that a reunion between Wilson and Carroll in Las Vegas is a legitimate possibility.
“Now that Pete Carroll is the head coach of the Raiders—who don’t have a quarterback—the connection between Wilson and Carroll reuniting in Vegas is real,” Palmer explained on James Palmer TV.
He also pointed out that Wilson had past interest in joining the Raiders, making the fit even more plausible. Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, the Steelers are debating whether to bring back Wilson or Justin Fields, with head coach Mike Tomlin being the primary supporter of Wilson last season. However, many within the organization reportedly believe the team should have never made the switch from Fields in the first place.
With Fields being just 25 years old and Wilson turning 36, the Steelers could opt for the younger quarterback—leaving Wilson in need of a new opportunity.
Is Las Vegas Wilson’s Best Option?
Wilson and Carroll achieved significant success together in Seattle, making consecutive Super Bowls in 2014 and 2015—winning the first but falling short in the second on a now-infamous goal-line interception.
However, their relationship reportedly deteriorated in the years leading up to Wilson’s 2022 trade to the Denver Broncos, with reports surfacing that the quarterback attempted to get Carroll fired.
Despite that history, Las Vegas may still be the best landing spot for Wilson. With limited options at quarterback—unless they make an unlikely push for Aaron Rodgers or pay Sam Darnold upwards of $40 million—the Raiders may view Wilson as the best available solution.
While Palmer suggests Wilson has multiple options, Las Vegas might offer him his best, and perhaps final, opportunity to reclaim a starting role. And though their relationship may not be perfect, Carroll remains the one coach who consistently got the best out of Wilson—potentially making this reunion a path to reviving his career.
