Carroll’s unorthodox style can work in NFL

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Carroll’s unorthodox style can work in NFL

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Pete Carroll made history shortly after his return to the NFL.

 

On April 21, the new Seahawks coach became the first professional coach to provide hints about his upcoming draft picks by leaving song clues on Twitter. Carroll chose artists ranging from Lil’ Wayne to House of Pain to Taylor Swift. Time will tell if Carroll’s run in Seattle proves successful, but it’s definitely going to be different.

 

Let’s rewind three months to Jan. 12, the day of Carroll’s introductory press conference. These are usually dry, short affairs. Carroll started the proceedings by pretending to put on a helmet. Then he spoke for nearly 12 minutes before he took the first question. He was just getting started.

 

"I am so fired up to be here," he said.

 

The session encapsulated Carroll’s many sides: motivational speaker, defensive mastermind, salesman, owner, personnel chief, and cheerleader. Part of me wondered if Carroll was full of hot air. The other part wanted to hop on the next flight to Seattle and offer my services to help the Seahawks in any way possible. (Water boy, perhaps?)

 

Carroll sells more than a system or a playbook. He wants to transform the usual philosophies in a businesslike league. The longtime USC coach admittedly tries to inspire. Take this passage from the Seahawks’ website from late May.

 

“Carroll’s ‘Win Forever’ mantra…is becoming the blood that pumps through the Seahawks and has delivered unprecedented hope and promise for the organization’s future,” the article reads.

 

Mantras and motivational tools fuel many college football programs. But will this approach work on 53 grown professional men that make millions of dollars?

 

Our analysts from Football Night in America are optimistic it can in time.

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