Jim Mora Fired from Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks jumped onto a slowly spinning coaching carousel Friday, firing Jim Mora after just one injury-riddled season. But the Seahawks’ next move might be an even bigger surprise. ESPN reported that the Seahawks are pursuing Southern California Coach Pete Carroll, who -– given the absence of a Seattle general manager –- could assume power over all facets of the Seahawks’ football operations.
This would be Carroll’s third stint in the N.F.L. He went 6-10 in his lone year with the Jets, but was 27-21 in three seasons with the Patriots, which he took to the playoffs twice. Carroll’s greatest success has been at U.S.C., where the Trojans have been perennial national title contenders. He has repeatedly rebuffed prior interest from N.F.L. teams. But Carroll has most likely seen the storm clouds gathering over USC because of potential NCAA violations. And Seattle is an attractive situation for Carroll: it allows him to remain on the West Coast, its owner, Paul Allen, has the deepest pockets in the N.F.L., and the Seahawks have two first-round draft picks this spring.
The Seahawks had asked for permission to talk with Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, Leslie Frazier, who will interview on Saturday, according to The Minneapolis Star-Tribune. That puts the Seahawks in compliance with the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate.
