Some people never learn: (If this is a duplicate thread I apologize in advance, but for the record a search of Pete Carroll turned up nothing of the sort.)
ESPN - Sources: Falcons want to interview USC's Carroll for head coaching vacancy - NFL
Sources: Falcons want to interview USC's Carroll for head coaching vacancy
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
ATLANTA -- Having so far limited their search to current NFL assistants, the
Atlanta Falcons may be about to move outside the box and significantly raise the profile of candidates for their head coaching vacancy.
[+]
Enlarge
Multiple sources told ESPN.com late Tuesday night that the Falcons are pursuing Pete Carroll for an interview. If Carroll agrees, and the logistics can be arranged, the Southern California coach could huddle with Atlanta owner Arthur Blank by the weekend. Carroll, who has previously been a head coach in the NFL with the
New York Jets and
New England Patriots, would certainly become the biggest name on the list of Atlanta candidates.
Carroll, 56, recently completed his seventh season at Southern California with a resounding victory over Illinois in the Rose Bowl. He has led the Trojans to two national championships and compiled a 76-14 record. The 14 defeats have been by an average of just 4.1 points.
Southern California was 11-2 this season and many observers felt that, had it not been for injuries, the Trojans might have vied for the national title. Carroll's .844 winning mark at Southern California is the best in the nation among active coaches with at least five seasons of experience.
Over the past few seasons, there has been rampant speculation that Carroll might be lured back to the NFL, but he has rebuffed all overtures to return to the pro game. Conventional wisdom is that Carroll would only consider an NFL job if he had full control over the football operation. That likely would not be the case in Atlanta, where Blank is seeking a new general manager as well as a head coach.