The team released a statement after reports began to surface, saying that they had “amicably agreed” to have him transition from head coach to an advisor position with the organization.
Pete Carroll at his final press conference as Seahawks head coach
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy as he celebrates with team president Peter McLoughlin, center rear, owner Paul Allen, third from right, and general manager John Schneider, right, after the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks won 43-8. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seattle Seahawks v Arizona Cardinals GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 21: Running back Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks walks past head coach Pete Carroll during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 21, 2014 in Glendale, Arizona. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 35-6. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
New York Jets v Seattle Seahawks SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 01: Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks talks with head coach Pete Carroll in between plays against the New York Jets during the second half of the game at Lumen Field on January 1, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won 23-6. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
Denver Broncos v Seattle Seahawks SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 12: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks and Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos shake hands after their game at Lumen Field on September 12, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll reacts during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Seattle Seahawks v Detroit Lions DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 02: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks reacts in the fourth quarter of the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 02, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Pete Carroll: What you need to know
San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 05: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks talks with Russell Wilson #3 during pregame warm-ups before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on December 05, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears v Seattle Seahawks SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 26: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during warm-ups before the game against the Chicago Bears at Lumen Field on December 26, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) (abbie parr/Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks v San Francisco 49ers SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 03: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during the first half against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Pete Carroll Bill Belichick Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll meet at midfield following the Seahawks win over the Patriots in Foxboro in 2016. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks-Denver Broncos play Sunday, Feb. 2 Seahawks fan Teresa Dahlquist reacts after getting a hug from Seattle head coach Pete Carroll during media day for the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, in Newark, N.J. (Matt Slocum)
Seattle Seahawks-Denver Broncos play Sunday, Feb. 2 Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll goes to hug Teresa Dahlquist during media day for the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, in Newark, N.J. (Matt Slocum)
John Schneider Pete Carroll John Schneider and Pete Carroll celebrate after their 43-8 victory over the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XLVIII. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Arizona Cardinals v Seattle Seahawks SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 22: Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll hugs offensive lineman Germain Ifedi #65 of the Seattle Seahawks during warmups before a game against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field on December 22, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) (Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll walks off the field after the Seahawks beat the St. Louis Rams 27-9 in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 19: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with fans after the Seahawks 23-17 victory against the San Francisco 49ers during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 19: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks and head coach Jim Harbaugh of the San Francisco 49ers shake hands after the Seahawks 23-17 victory during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, left, celebrates with Heath Farwell (55) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) dumps Gatorade on head coach Pete Carroll near the end of the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. Seattle won 43-8. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen, Pete Carroll and General Manager John Schneider, from left, celebrate after the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks won 43-8. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll embraces Russell Wilson after the second half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seattle Seahawks won 43-8. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, right, shakes hands with Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, center, after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 17-7. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 18: Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen and head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks celebrate after the Seahawks defeated the Green Bay Packers in the 2015 NFC Championship game at CenturyLink Field on January 18, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 18: Head coach Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrate after the Seahawks 28-22 victory in overtime against the Green Bay Packers during the 2015 NFC Championship game at CenturyLink Field on January 18, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 10: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks walks off the field after defeating the Carolina Panthers after their 2015 NFC Divisional Playoff game at CenturyLink Field on January 10, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Carolina Panthers 31 to 17. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 18: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks greets head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers after the Seahawks won the 2015 NFC Championship game at CenturyLink Field on January 18, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
JERSEY CITY, NJ - JANUARY 29: Pete Carroll, head coach of the Seattle Seahawks speaks to the media during an availability January 29, 2014 in Jersey City, New Jersey. The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks will meet at Super Bowl XLVIII at Metlife Stadium on February 2, 2014. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
Carroll delivered an emotional press conference Wednesday, reiterating that “for a variety of reasons, we’ve mutually agreed to set a new course for the club to take on new leadership.”
“It’s been an honor,” he continued, pausing as he teared up. “I’ve loved every minute of it.”
Carroll expressed his support for General Manager John Schneider and the Seahawks’ ownership as they begin their search for a new head coach.
As for why he stepped down, he clarified that he “competed pretty hard to be the coach,” but ultimately agreed that it was the best move for the organization. He went on to say that it was “too soon” to talk about whether he’d take on a head coaching job for another team down the line.
In a show of support, a handful of Seahawks players were in attendance at Carroll’s farewell presser, including Geno Smith and Bobby Wagner.
Well-wishes have poured in since Carroll’s departure as head coach was made official. Among them was Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.
“Pete Carroll’s positive leadership and standard of excellence made him the Seahawks winningest head coach, brought home Seattle’s first Super Bowl title, and inspired our city with a good attitude, humor, and a true commitment to our community,” Harrell said. “Thank you, Coach Carroll!”
Quarterback Russell Wilson called Carroll “one of the greatest ever” in a post on Wednesday afternoon as well.
“I’m grateful I was able to experience a man like you as my leader,” he continued. “I’ll never forget being wheeled out of a hospital alone at 3 a.m. and seeing you with your wife still waiting to give me a huge. Thank you for everything.”
“They knew that they were role models and a significant influence in the lives of the young people they had the honor of coaching,” Baldwin said. “Pete Carroll was one of those coaches for me. I am incredibly grateful for his leadership, his patience, his grace, his commitment and above all, his friendship.”
Carroll coached the Seahawks for 14 seasons to a 137-89 record. His storied tenure included back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, as well as the franchise’s first Super Bowl win in 2014.