USC Heisman Trophy Winner Calls Pete Carroll 'Perfect' for Raiders

USC Heisman Trophy Winner Calls Pete Carroll 'Perfect' for Raiders originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Pete Carroll is running his fourth NFL Training Camp ever. This time the former USC Trojans national title winning head coach is attempting to re-energize the Las Vegas Raiders.

Carroll will look to defy his age dilemma. Plus the 74-year-old will look to prove he's the perfect guy to galvanize a struggling franchise. But one past Heisman Trophy winner loves Carroll's fit in Sin City.

His former Trojans quarterback Carson Palmer told Raiders team reporter Paul Gutierrez that he loves Carroll leading the Silver and Black. Palmer is familiar with the franchise too -- spending 2011 and 2012 with them while they were in Oakland.

But here's why Palmer feels Carroll to Vegas will work.

"It was a no-brainer on the Raiders' end to get that quality and experience," Palmer told Gutierrez. "He's been there, done that. Had success on every level."

Palmer added that Carroll is tailored made for the Raiders.

"He's the perfect guy for the job. I'm happy for Raider Nation; I'm ecstatic for him," he said.

Carroll brings an infectious persona to the Raiders. But he's adding a competitive touch too. He's only endured four sub .500 campaigns in his 19 seasons as an NFL head coach. None of his teams lost more than 10 regular season games. That includes his league coaching debut in 1994 with the New York Jets.

But his fingers have worn three championship rings: Two national championship ones from his USC run, then his Super Bowl ring from the Seattle Seahawks' 2013 team. Now he'll seek a new ring plus aim to hand the Raiders the franchise's fourth Vince Lombardi Trophy. As Palmer says, Carroll is "perfect" for the task at hand.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.