Hot Rumor: USC’s Pete Carroll Returning to the NFL?

by Tom V.

With coaching vacancies around the NFL — Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, most notably — the hot name on everyone’s list is, once again, Pete Carroll. The current head coach of USC, arguably the hottest college football team in the nation, despite letdowns, always seems to be in talks this time of year as teams search for the next big NFL head coach.

The problem? Carroll is a god in Southern California. Perhaps the most widely recognized coach in college football, Carroll has built a legacy and put SoCal back on the map in a big way. Year in and out his teams enter the season ranked first in the nation and find themselves in the middle of a BCS Bowl.

Of course, Carroll is no stranger to the NFL. He coached two franchises, first the Jets without success (a 6-10 record in 1994), and later the Patriots for three seasons (two playoff appearances) from 1997-1999. Deciding the NFL wasn’t for him, Carroll returned to college football and was hired by the Trojans December, 2000. The rest, as they say, is history.

The most notable rumor circulating has Carroll going to the Falcons, a team desperate for a coach (and a prestigious name) to make the team relevant again. Team owner Arthur Blank reportedly would like to offer Carroll the opportunity to both coach the team and perform the duties of general manager. The latter part of the deal may be enough to entice Carroll back to the NFL.