Geno Smith trade? Pete Carroll reportedly spoke to Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald and John Schneider for over an hour on the plane
Pete Carroll, the Las Vegas Raiders head coach, and Seattle Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald and their GM flew in the same flight to Indianapolis.
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Pete Carroll, Mike Macdonald, John Schneider, Geno Smith (Images via Fansided/Everett Herald/KUOW/Seahawks on Tape)
Pete Carroll, recently appointed as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, is set to make his first significant public appearance at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Las Vegas Raiders recently hired the 73-year-old after a year-long hiatus from coaching.
Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn, who was also on the same flight, observed Carroll engaging in discussions with Macdonald and Schneider in the first-class section. During his flight to the event, Carroll reportedly shared the journey with Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and general manager John Schneider. At some point during the flight, Carroll left his seat and headed to the first-class section to speak with Macdonald and Schneider.
The conversation lasted nearly an hour, with Carroll standing in the aisle for so long that flight attendants eventually had to request he return to his seat. Interestingly, despite his new position, Carroll was initially seated in the coach section of the plane, leading to some criticism of the Raiders for not providing him with a first-class seat.
At first glance, this encounter seems like nothing more than a casual discussion between longtime colleagues. Carroll and Schneider worked closely for over a decade in Seattle, building a team that won Super Bowl XLVIII and remained competitive throughout Carroll’s tenure.
Even after stepping down as head coach, Carroll stayed on as an advisor for the Seahawks last season, likely maintaining a working relationship with both Schneider and Macdonald.
Given the long duration of the flight from the West Coast to Indianapolis, it’s entirely plausible that they were simply catching up, passing time, or discussing football matters unrelated to team transactions. However, the optics of this meeting have sparked speculation among fans and analysts about a potential Geno Smith trade.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been struggling with their quarterback, after Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O’Connell turned out to be not as good as expected. The other option Desmond Ridder is set to be a restricted free agent when the league starts for a new year in upcoming March.
Is a Geno Smith trade in works? What’s next for Pete Carroll and the Raiders?
The media and fans are quick to jump to speculations in the eve of something on these lines. However, there are a couple of factors that suggest it could have been a casual catchup.
Primarily, there was an absence of Raiders general manager John Spytek. Although coaches do partake in discussions on their roster, it’s unlikely that any substantive negotiations happened. Secondly, discussing trade scenarios in a public setting, especially in front of other passengers, would be highly unusual for experienced NFL executives. The first class, despite being a limited seat, secluded space is not a conventional meeting ground.
The Raiders currently hold the sixth pick in the upcoming draft set to happen in April. The NFL Combine is an opportunity for the team to actively search for their newest additions. The Raiders may pick Shedeur Sanders, although he is confident to be placed way above.
They are also expected to make some moves in the free agency as well with Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson, and Matthew Stafford as well. The new camaraderie of Pete Carroll and John Spytek is expected to bring some much needed cheer to Mark Davis and Tom Brady.
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