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The NFL's rumor mill is churning, and it's delivering a wild plot twist: Raiders head coach Pete Carroll stepping up to assist Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones with a game-changing decision. Carroll confirmed he played a key role in shaping the Cowboys' coaching future, a move sparked by Raiders star Maxx Crosby's emotional tribute to retiring Cowboys icon Zack Martin. This Raiders-Cowboys crossover has fans hooked-here's the full breakdown of this unexpected saga.
It all started with Zack Martin, the Cowboys' nine-time All-Pro guard, who called it a career after an ankle injury sidelined him in 2024, requiring surgery. At 34, Martin left behind a Hall of Fame-worthy legacy, and Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas' fierce defensive end, couldn't let it quietly.
Taking to X, Crosby wrote, "Ultimate Competitor. Loved Going To War Against You, First Ballot HOF. Enjoy Retirement Brother." That shoutout didn't just honor Martin-it set off a chain reaction, amplifying the stakes for Dallas as they faced a coaching crossroads post-Mike McCarthy.
Jones taps Pete Carroll for help after Maxx Crosby honors retiring Cowboy
Enter Pete Carroll, the Raiders' new head coach and a seasoned sideline legend. Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine, per CBSSports.com, Carroll revealed he'd thrown his weight behind Brian Schottenheimer-his former Seahawks offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2020-for the Cowboys' top job.
"He is ready. He's been waiting for this opportunity for years," Carroll told reporters. "I just told [Jerry] all the positive stuff about Brian, the stuff we'd been through together, and the confidence I had in him... I was glad I had a chance to help him." Jones, who called it "as big a risk as you could take" hiring an untested head coach, trusted Carroll's endorsement, naming Schottenheimer to lead Dallas into 2025.
The timing's almost cinematic: Martin's exit shook the Cowboys' foundation, Crosby's words fueled the buzz, and Carroll's influence sealed the deal. Schottenheimer, who honed his craft under Carroll during Russell Wilson's explosive Seahawks run, now inherits a high-pressure gig. Meanwhile, Crosby's pumped about Carroll in Vegas, telling SiriusXM, "He's a winner... It's exciting to see what's coming."
This Raiders-Cowboys link-up is pure NFL gold. Can Schottenheimer prove Carroll right and turn Dallas around?