Bobby Wagner has only played for one team and one head coach since the Seahawks drafted him in 2012, but the veteran linebacker knows enough people around the league to understand how good of a situation he and his teammates have in Seattle.
And while winning a lot of games and going to the playoffs almost every year has a lot to do with player happiness, so too does the culture Pete Carroll has created in Seattle since taking over as head coach in 2010. So when Carroll signed a contract extension on Monday that runs through the 2021 season, his players were understandably happy about that news.
"I'm excited for him," Wagner said. "He earned it. It's crazy, everybody was kind of doubting him at one time and you know how he is. He loves doubters and he loves proving people wrong. It was great to see him get extended, I think it's well deserved. He's an amazing coach, he's an even better person. He's a coach that I honestly feel cares about football, but cares about the person too. He wants to see you do good whenever you decide to hang your cleats up. Personally, I haven't had any other coaches, but just from stories, it's not like that anywhere else. A person who actually cares about making sure you are just as successful off the field as you are on the field and wanting you to learn and get as much from the game as you possibly can. I think he deserves everything he's getting."
Wagner's longtime teammate and fellow linebacker K.J. Wright has played for Carroll since 2011, making him the longest-tenured player on the 53-man roster along with receiver Doug Baldwin—safety Earl Thomas, a 2010 first-round pick, is on injured reserve. And Wright too was excited to hear that the only head coach he has known in the NFL will stick around.
"I was happy," Wright said. "He's one of the best in the league, and he's really good for this city, really good for this team, and guys love playing for him. He earned it, and I'm happy for him."
As Wagner noted, the Seahawks have exceeded a lot of people's expectations this season following a significant amount of offseason roster turnover, which is why Baldwin said following Sunday's playoff-clinching win, "I would put this up there as one of his best years coaching, without a doubt. All the news faces, all the new coaches, the new guys, really just figuring out how best to utilize them so that we can be successful on the football field and perform at a high level, it's incredible. Now he's not going to get all the credit, because we do have an offensive coordinator and a defensive coordinator and all the position coaches who work their tails off too. It's a full team effort, for sure, but I will say that I think Pete has done a fantastic job this year."
Left tackle Duane Brown has only played for Carroll for a year and a half, but he already understands what Wagner talked about when it comes to caring about the person and not just the athlete.
"He's a great coach who really, really cares about us as players, but also cares about us as men," Brown said. "He takes care of us. This year is a testament to how great of a coach he is. To have so many young players, so many unproven players step in and play pivotal roles and help us get into the playoffs, he's a great leader. When I saw that news, I was extremely happy."
Added center Justin Britt, who has played for Carroll and the Seahawks since 2014, "I love what Coach Pete brings every day, the energy he brings, the atmosphere, the whole thing. It's great news for us that he's sticking around even longer."
Go behind the scenes with team photographer Rod Mar as he shares moments from the Seattle Seahawks' Week 16 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson arrives at CenturyLInk Field and walks by a mural next to the team's locker room.
Safety Bradley McDougald makes his way up the hallway leading to the players locker room at CenturyLink Field before the game.
Kicker Sebastian Janikowski finds a moment of quiet in his locker hours before the kickoff of Sunday Night Football before the game.
Offensive lineman Elijah Nkansah is in the holiday spirit as he stretches before the game two days before Christmas. Nkansah was called up from the practice squad for the contest against the Chiefs.
Outside the locker room, linebacker Bobby Wagner signs autographs for early arriving fans.
Seahawks mascot "Blitz" chats with television personality Joel McHale before the game. McHale was raised in Seattle and is an avid 12.
Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright, flanked by team president Chuck Arnold (left) and general manager John Schneider, is awarded the Seahawks Man of the Year award during pregame.
The Sea Gals perform during pregame festivities before the Sunday Night Football game at CenturyLink Field.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett speaks to the team before they leave the locker room for kickoff against the Chiefs.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson wasted no time making plays in front of the Sunday Night Football cameras, scrambling for 19 yards on the team's opening drive.
Seahawks running back Chris Carson heads up the left side for 17 yards.
Seahawks defensive end Dion Jordan collars Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes for a sack in the first quarter.
Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin makes a play on Kansas City's Chris Conley near the end of the first quarter.
12s were loud and colorful as usual for the prime time matchup between the Seahawks and the Chiefs.
Seahawks defensive end Dion Jordan forces Chiefs running back Damien Williams to fumble in the second quarter.
Seattle's Shamar Stephen and Jarran Reed dive to recover a Kansas City fumble in the second quarter.
Seahawks tight end Nick Vannett dives for the end zone on a one-yard touchdown reception from Russell Wilson.
Tight end Nick Vannett celebrates his touchdown with 12s in the south end zone.
At halftime, defensive players Quinton Jefferson, Frank Clark and Jacob Martin confer in a corner of the locker room.
Special teams coach Brian Schneider talks with Elijah Nkansah and Joey Hunt in the locker room during halftime.
Quarterback Russell Wilson, Brett Hundley and Alex McGough meet during halftime in the Seahawks locker room.
Seahawks receiver David Moore leaps high in the corner of the end zone but was just out-of-bounds upon landing for an incomplete pass.
Seahawks special teamers Neiko Thorpe, J.D. McKissic and Maurice Alexander react after a play in the third quarter.
Head coach Pete Carroll and special teams coach Brian Schneider talk with kicker Sebastian Janikowski who was injured on a play earlier in the game.
Tight end Ed Dickson reacts after his second effort earned a first down in front of the Chiefs bench.
Seattle's Doug Baldwin leaps to make a twisting catch for a 27-yard touchdown in the third quarter, giving the Seahawks a 24-17 lead.
Seahawks defensive coordinator Ken Norton, Jr. congratulates Quinton Jefferson as he comes off the field after the defense forced the Chiefs to punt.
Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin knocks the ball away from Chiefs intended receiver Kelvin Benjamin in the end zone and Kansas City had to settle for a field goal on the drive.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson escapes up the middle for a 26-yard gain in the fourth quarter.
Seattle's Ed Dickson dives across the middle to corral a touchdown pass from Russell Wilson in the third quarter.
Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin makes a fingertip catch deep in Chiefs territory to set up Chris Carson's touchdown late in the game.
Seattle's Chris Carson goes crashing into the end zone with a one-yard touchdown to extend the Seahawks lead to 38-28 in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks Russell Wilson, Chris Carson, David Moore, Mike Davis, Nick Vannett and Justin Britt pose for the Sunday Night Football cameras after Carson's touchdown late in the game gave Seattle a ten point lead.
Seahawks fans make noise on the Chiefs final drive.
Seahawks offensive tackle Duane Brown pumps up the 12s on Kansas City's final drive.
Seahawks Frank Clark and Jarran Reed tackle Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes late in the game.
Head coach Pete Carroll puts his arms around receiver Doug Baldwin as the clock ticks down on the victory over the Chiefs, clinching a playoff berth for the Seahawks.
Defensive end Frank Clark and head coach Pete Carroll celebrate as the offense takes the victory formation to seal the victory.
After the game, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes meet at midfield.
Seahawks fans went home with a Merry Christmas after their team sealed a playoff berth in Week 16, the day before the day before Christmas.
A jubilant Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson enters the victorious locker room after the game.
The Seahawks surround head coach Pete Carroll in the jubilant locker room after the win over the Chiefs clinched a playoff spot.
