Next Seahawks coach NFL odds: Dan Quinn clear favorite over Mike Vrabel, Dave Canales, others to replace Pete Carroll

The NFL world was surprised Tuesday when the Tennessee Titans fired successful coach Mike Vrabel. That pales in comparison to the shockwaves around the league today when it was announced that future Hall of Famer Pete Carroll will not return as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks next season – even though he had recently said he fully expected to be back – but will remain in the organization as an advisor. SportsLine offers early odds on the next Seattle coach.

As recently as Monday, Carroll said he intended to return for what would be his 15th season in Seattle despite being the league's oldest coach at 72. He was under contract through 2025 and also held the title of executive vice president of football operations

"I plan to be coaching this team," Carroll said on his radio show, although he did hint at changes in his staff. "I told you that I love these guys and that's what I would like to be doing and see how far I can go. I'm not worn out. I'm not tired. I'm not any of that stuff. I need to do a better job and I need to help my coaches more and we need to do a better job of coaching, and there's a lot of area for improvement."

Returning for another season would have potentially allowed Carroll to become the oldest coach in league history. Romeo Crennel holds the record, having been 73 years, 115 days old when he last coached the Houston Texans in 2020.

"After thoughtful meetings and careful consideration for the best interest of the franchise, we have amicably agreed with Pete Caroll that his role will evolve from Head Coach to remain with the organization as an advisor," the Seahawks announced in a press release.

The Seahawks have been in a slow decline since winning Super Bowl XLVIII and then losing in devastating fashion to New England in Super Bowl XLIX. While Seattle has made the playoffs six times since that Patriots loss, it has only advanced past the wild card round three times, most recently in 2019. Seattle backed into the playoffs following the 2022 season and would have done the same this season if Green Bay had lost in Week 18 vs. Chicago, but the Packers won to claim the NFC's final wild card spot.

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will most likely be at the top of GM John Schneider's list of potential replacements for Carroll. Quinn was Seattle's assistant head coach and defensive line coach from 2009-10 and the defensive coordinator in 2013-14 – both Super Bowl seasons led by the "Legion of Boom" defense.

Seattle Defense Under DC Dan Quinn, 2013-14

Quinn's unit in Dallas, where he has been since 2021, has been splendid (Seattle's was terrible this season), and he has head coaching experience from his Atlanta Falcons days. Quinn posted a 43-42 record and captured one conference title. His Falcons, like Carroll's Seahawks, also suffered a devastating loss in the Super Bowl (LI) against Tom Brady and New England. Candidates still employed by other NFL teams cannot interview in person until Jan. 22, after the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

If Carroll a say in selecting his replacement, it would make sense that it would be someone who worked under him like Quinn or Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales. Canales was an assistant in Seattle from 2010-22.

Vrabel is arguably the top candidate on the market given his work in Tennessee. Is it a coincidence the Carroll is out just 24 hours after Vrabel became available?  

If Seattle wants to go with an offensive-minded head coach and Canales isn't the pick, Washington OC Eric Bienemy has a couple of Super Bowl rings from his days as Andy Reid's assistant, and helped turn Sam Howell into a relatively competent quarterback this season, Howell's first as the full-time starter. Seattle might be ready to start over with a new young QB and holds the No. 16 overall pick in this year's draft.

Could Michigan's Jim Harbaugh follow Carroll's lead in returning a once-downtrodden college football blue-blood to national championship status before heading back to the NFL? Harbaugh has been linked to the Chargers and Raiders. He and Carroll used to be bitter rivals when Carroll was at USC and Harbaugh coached Stanford.

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Who will be the next Seahawks coach?

• Dan Quinn Even
• Mike Vrabel +400
• Dave Canales +500
• Mike Macdonald +700
• Eric Bienemy +1000
• Ben Johnson +1500
• Raheem Morris +1700
• Shane Waldron +2000
• Bobby Slowik +2000
• Jim Harbaugh +2500
• Kalen DeBoer +5000

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