In the past 48 hours, the NFL world has seen two legendary runs come to an end. On Wednesday, the Seattle Seahawks parted ways with Pete Carroll as their head coach. On Thursday morning, Bill Belichick and the Patriots decided to part ways after a 24-year run that included six championships and an era of dominance never seen before.
As both franchises prepare for a new chapter, former and current players have taken to social media to share their appreciation for the two icons. That includes former Rutgers quarterback Mike Teal, who played for both during his two years in the NFL.
In a post on his X account, Teal said, ” I got to be in locker rooms and meetings with Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll. There was a reason why they have been two of the best in the ever changing NFL year after year. Leaders of men in their own ways. Sacrifice to the betterment of the team wins. Congrats on great runs.”
I’ll never forget when Bill Belichick gave us a complete history of Special Teams off the top of his head!pic.twitter.com/PW9W0TWYID
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) January 11, 2024
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While Carroll and Belichick need no introduction, Teal was able to cross paths with two men who have etched themselves into the record books. During Carroll’s tenure, he became the winningest coach in Seahawks history. In 2014, he led the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl title.
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During his time in New England, Belichick became one of the greatest NFL coaches the game has ever seen. With Belichick at the helm, the Patriots won 308 games, including the postseason. From 2001 to 2019, the Patriots won 17 of 19 AFC East titles, including an NFL record of 11 consecutive division crowns.
While Belichick is now searching for a new team, Carroll’s run in Seattle is not over. His role will change from head coach to advisor. However, their impact goes beyond the stat sheet, and as Teal said in his Twitter post, they are two of the best the NFL has ever seen.