The day after the Raiders fired Pete Carroll, wide receiver Tre Tucker stood at his locker and summed up the feeling of a team that has grown accustomed to upheaval. “It’s kind of become something that’s just part of the business for me,” he said. “I just feel like every year it’s something new. But you learn from it.”
Carroll was dismissed Monday after a 3-14 season, his only year as Raiders coach. The decision sets off the franchise’s fourth coaching search in as many years for Tucker, who will be entering his fourth season. But unlike previous transitions, the Raiders hold the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and possess the second-most salary cap space in the league — factors that players believe could accelerate a turnaround.
“When you look at teams like the Commanders, the Bears, the Jaguars, who we actually beat last year (2024) and now they just won the AFC South, you just see what one year can do for you,” Tucker said.
Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, who experienced a coaching change at Boise State, echoed that optimism. “I don’t make those decisions, but obviously we have a new head coach coming in,” he said. “Hopefully they just bring in the right guy.” Jeanty said he learned from Carroll to “stay positive” and “be optimistic. No matter what the situation is.”
The locker room mood ranged from acceptance to hope. Offensive lineman Alex Cappa shouldered some of the blame for Carroll’s firing. “We have to do more to produce better,” he said.
Defensive end Maxx Crosby, speaking on SiriusXM after the announcement, described the atmosphere around the building as “gloomy” but praised Carroll. “This season didn’t go the way we expected at all,” Crosby said. “But Pete was as consistent as they come. … He was always awesome to me.”
Tucker emphasized the need for stability after cycling through coaches and systems. “You get used to a system and learn it and then it’s gone,” he said. “It’s almost like you’re running for a dollar in the wind, and you finally get close enough to grab it and then it blows away.”
