Earlier than being traded to the Denver Broncos and starting what can be the worst yr of his NFL profession, Broncos QB Russell Wilson needed Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and GM Jon Schneider fired, in response to a report by The Athletic.
In keeping with the report, Wilson was satisfied that Carroll and Schneider had been blocking Wilson’s possibilities of profitable one other Tremendous Bowl and different particular person awards. It was clear there was an influence battle between Wilson and Carroll, particularly stemming from the “Let Russ Prepare dinner” motion, which known as for Wilson throwing the ball early and sometimes. It labored for a restricted time, then within the again half of 2020 it fell aside, inflicting strife between the top coach and star QB.
If possession determined to stay with their franchise QB over their head coach, Wilson already had a alternative in thoughts: Sean Payton. In keeping with The Athletic, Payton would’ve grow to be the brand new Seahawks head coach if Wilson received his manner.
As a substitute, Wilson was despatched to Denver, the Broncos offense struggled at each aspect of the game (from calling the performs into the huddle to the downfield passing assault being nearly nonexistent) and then-Broncos head man Nathaniel Hackett was fired. The Broncos would then flip round and rent Sean Payton as their new head coach.
Right here’s how The Athletic reported it:
Wilson and Carroll had clashed in recent times over the quarterback’s function within the offense and the general course of a group that had regularly declined after back-to-back Tremendous Bowl appearances. Satisfied that Carroll and Schneider had been inhibiting his quest to win further Tremendous Bowls and particular person awards, Wilson requested Seahawks possession to fireplace each of them, in response to league sources who spoke to The Athletic on the situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to debate the small print. Wilson additionally had a most popular alternative in thoughts: Sean Payton, who had lately stepped down from the New Orleans Saints.
In the meantime, in Seattle, Carroll would lead a group meant to rebuild to the playoffs with out Wilson, and Schneider would construct a group that whereas they contended in 2023, in addition they have two first spherical draft picks and are primed to construct a group that may contend sooner or later—a type of picks is within the prime 5, and it stems from the Russell Wilson commerce.
Within the brief time period, the Wilson to Denver commerce looks like a monumental win for the Seahawks, whereas the Broncos are nonetheless left with main inquiries to reply, a majority of them stemming round their QB beneath heart. Can Wilson nonetheless run an offense at a excessive degree, that isn’t the “Let Russ Prepare dinner” offense? Below Sean Payton, we’ll need to see, however as of now it looks like the Seahawks made the appropriate alternative backing Carroll and Schneider over Wilson.
