Since Pete Carroll became Seattle's head coach, he has seen two defensive coordinators, Gus Bradley, then Dan Quinn, move on to become head coaches with other teams. The Seahawks have also lost assistants to promotions on other teams, including linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. who is now the defensive coordinator in Oakland.
And with the Seahawks again in the playoffs and six NFL teams looking for new head coaches, it's entirely possible that one or more Seahawks assistants could again be candidates for those jobs, whether that be offensive line coach/assistant head coach Tom Cable, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell or defensive coordinator Kris Richard.
But where some might see losing assistants as a negative, Carroll goes out of his way to help his coaches land those jobs if that is their goal. Of course it goes without saying that those assistant coaches' first priority this time of year is preparing the Seahawks for this week's game against the Detroit Lions, but if the opportunity arises and the timing works out, Carroll is all for promoting career advancement.
"Honestly to me, it's a very positive thing," Carroll said. "When guys come to this program and we first talk about coming, I'll tell them I'll do everything I can to help them get wherever they want to go and do whatever they want to do with their careers. I mean that. When the opportunity comes up and our guys are getting some looks and stuff, I'm the first one cheerleading for them and working with them, in every way that I can. Whether it's getting ready for interviews, getting ready for staff stuff, whatever they want. I'm not trying to tell them what to do, I'm just there available to help them because I want them to do well."
A big part of Carroll's coaching philosophy is striving to help people be the best they can be, and that includes coaches, so if he is going to stay true to that, helping an assistant earn a head coaching job only makes sense. But there is another reason to encourage the upward mobility of his assistants—it makes it a lot easier to hire the best candidates in the future when an opening arises.
"Part of that is the messaging for the next guys that come in," Carroll said. "I want the next guys that come in to know that if you come here, you'll get supported and you're going to have a chance to do whatever you dreamed of doing in your career. I'm going to bust my tail to help them do that."
Cable has been a head coach before, and he makes no secret of the fact that, in the right situation, he would be interested in being one again, so he can appreciate Carroll's willingness to help his assistants reach their career goals.
"Pete is great in regards to that," Cable said. "That's what he's training all of us to do. From the beginning, that was his philosophy. To try to do this better to take guys where they want to go. It's a great thought and opportunity down the road, but right now the most important thing is this football thing and Detroit."
Get to know the faces of the Detroit Lions' offensive and defensive units heading into the team's Wild Card playoff matchup with the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) in action against the New York Giants during an NFL game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Brad Penner)
Detroit Lions fullback Zach Zenner runs during the first half of NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions running back Dwayne Washington (36) runs for yardage in action against the New York Giants Sunday December 18, 2016 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones is seen in the bench area during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin (80) on the sideline against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andre Roberts returns a punt return for a 55-yard touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron (85)before a NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tight end Matthew Mulligan (82) catches a warm-up pass before an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Detroit, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions offensive guard Laken Tomlinson (72) during warm ups prior to an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions tackle Cornelius Lucas (77) watches from the sideline during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. The Lions won 22-17. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Detroit Lions guard Larry Warford (75) watches play against the Philadelphia Eagles in a week five NFL football game Oct. 9, 2016 in Detroit. The Lions won 24 - 23. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) on the sideline against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Riley Reiff (71) rests during an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys won the game, 42-21. (Greg Trott via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive guard Graham Glasgow is seen in the bench area during the second half of an NFL football game Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Joe Dahl (66) during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday September 1, 2016 in Detroit (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Nevin Lawson (24) before a NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin (27) during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, Dec. 26, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during a NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions safety Tavon Wilson (32) before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, September 11, 2016 in Indianapolis (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive end Devin Taylor is seen on the bench during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Lions safety Don Carey (26) during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) is seen in the bench area during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy (54) smiles before a NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) celebrates during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Tex. on Monday, Dec 26, 2016. The Cowboys defeated the Lions 42-21. (Kirby Lee/NFL)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is seen on the bench during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson (91) is seen in the bench area during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker watches during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016. Detroit won 31-28. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions outside linebacker Josh Bynes (57) is seen in the bench area during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Khyri Thornton (99) takes the field for a NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive end Kerry Hyder (61) during a NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive back Rafael Bush (31) on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans , Sunday, Sep. 18, 2016 in Detroit. (Rick Osentoski via AP Images)
Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) before a NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions punter Sam Martin (6) during pre-game of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions long snapper Don Muhlbach (48) before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, September 25, 2016 in Green Bay, Wis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
