SEATTLE — The Seahawks dropped a bombshell on the NFL world Wednesday, announcing that Pete Carroll was out as head coach after 14 seasons in Seattle.
Team owner Jody Allen said Carroll will still have a role within the organization and the decision was reached "amicably" with Carroll.
So who might the Seahawks tap to replace the 72-year-old Carroll? Here are five early candidates who could end up as the next head coach in Seattle.
Dan Quinn, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator
The first name is one multiple NFL reporters threw out on social media in the wake of the announcement from the Seahawks.
Quinn has had two previous stints on the Seattle coaching staff: First as an assistant head coach and defensive line coach from 2009-10 and then as defensive coordinator from 2013-14.
He does have NFL head coaching experience, leading the Atlanta Falcons from 2015 to 2020. Quinn had an overall record above .500 in his tenure with the Falcons, but is, unfortunately, most remembered for blowing a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.
Since being let go by Atlanta, Quinn has led a Cowboys defense ranked in the NFL's top 10 in points allowed per game in each of his three seasons.
Quinn has been linked to other head coach openings, but expect him to at least interview with Seattle.
Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator
Johnson has been mentioned throughout the NFL season as an almost-certain candidate for an NFL head coach vacancy.
The Lions have been elite on offense under his leadership, finishing as a top-five scoring offense in each of his two seasons so far.
Johnson would be quite the change of pace from Carroll, as he is just 37 years old.
Raheem Morris, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator
Morris didn't have much success in his first go-round as an NFL head coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, going just 17-31 in three seasons before being relieved of his duties.
However, Morris has led a strong Rams defense since 2021, including a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Seahawks are familiar with Morris' success, as he and the Rams held Seattle under 17 points in each of the two games between the teams in 2023.
Morris saw a lot of interest for head coaching vacancies last offseason and once again should be a popular name mentioned alongside many of the NFL's openings.
Kalen DeBoer, University of Washington head coach
The Seahawks made a move for a college head coach the last time the team had a head coaching vacancy, as Carroll came to Seattle from the University of Southern California.
DeBoer has lost just three games in two seasons at Washington, leading the team to the National Championship Game earlier this week in Houston.
He has said he doesn't intend to leave UW anytime soon, as his daughter is set to start at the school in the fall. However, Washington's campus is a short drive from Lumen Field and the Seahawks' practice facility in Renton.
DeBoer has proven to be an elite head coach at multiple levels of college football and potentially could translate success to the NFL.
Robert Saleh, New York Jets head coach
This would take a lot more effort on the Seahawks' part, as Saleh remains employed by the Jets. A trade would be necessary to pry Saleh away from the Jets.
Saleh and the Jets fell well short of expectations in 2023, going 7-10 after making a massive trade for Aaron Rodgers in the offseason and watching him go down with a season-ending injury just a few minutes into the first game.
He has a prior relationship with Carroll, having worked on the Seahawks' staff during the peak of the championship run for Seattle between 2011-13. The Jets could recoup some draft capital if the Seahawks were willing to trade for Saleh.
That would be a big if, as head coach trades are very infrequent in the NFL. If the Seahawks want someone familiar with Carroll, Quinn and Saleh would certainly be the top two candidates.
Very unlikely, but objectively funny: Jim Harbaugh, University of Michigan head coach
One bonus name would be Harbaugh, who has been rumored to be looking seriously at returning to the NFL following his national championship win for the Wolverines.
Harbaugh and Carroll have had beef for many years, dating back to their respective tenures at Stanford and USC and later with the Seahawks and 49ers. Harbaugh was not a well-liked man in Seattle as his 49ers were the Seahawks' main rival during the "Legion of Boom" seasons.
If he truly wants to return to the NFL and has his pick of available jobs, the Seahawks would be one of the better landing spots by most standards.
It would be an extraordinarily unpopular choice among Seahawks fans most likely, especially those fans who root for UW and watched his Michigan team dismantle the Huskies in the national title game.