"Raiders are so back" - NFL fans react as Marshawn Lynch interrupts Pete Carroll's introductory press conference
The Las Vegas Raiders have begun the Pete Carroll era, having formally introduced their new coach on Monday at a news conference that also featured new general manager John Spytek. And to the delight of some fans, a familiar face showed up, or rather, made himself heard.
Running back Marshawn Lynch, who played for the team in 2017 and 2018, was a surprise attendant and loudly chanted the team's name as his former coach spoke. The two had been together at the Seattle Seahawks for two stints, winning a Super Bowl in the 2013 season.
And of course, fans eagerly basked in the moment.
"The Raiders are so back," one user wrote.
"Running back coach?" one hypothesized.
"National freaking treasure," another marveled.
"(Expletive) it give him a headset," another requested.
Raiders need competitiveness within roster, says new HC Pete Carroll
There have been at least two near-constant elements within the Raiders' organization ever since their last Super Bowl run: disorder and failure. Whether it be players acting unprofessionally or coaches losing more than what owners deem acceptable, there has always been a sense that no matter what they do to elevate themselves, they are destined to fall back to a state of misery.
Take, for example, their 12-4 record in 2016. This was their first time making the playoffs since the death of Al Davis. The following season, they collapsed. Potential franchise cornerstones Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper were traded away soon after.
Or their 10-7 record in 2021, their first playoff appearance of the Las Vegas era. They failed to build on that despite getting Davante Adams, and Derek Carr was gone for 2023.
And then there is Pete Carroll. Boasting a winning legacy and program-building reputation, he has a keen sense of what the team needs to be. And he made it clear in the news conference that he wanted to instill competitiveness and camaraderie:
"Culture is the players. You'll see that, and we'll show them the way. And it all starts with competition. You're either competing or you're not. I'm gonna make sure that that's really clear to these guys from the moment they get here... There's one thing that I want them to understand: If you want to be on a great team, you need to be a great teammate.
"And so teaching what that's all about and instilling that in the makeup of our program, is going to be crucial. And the central theme of the program is always going to be competition. That's where it starts."
The Raiders have the sixth pick in the upcoming draft.