After a legendary final season at Boise State, running back Ashton Jeanty was likely not expecting his first season in the NFL to be so trying. He was excited to be the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, and many expected him to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
While he had some very good moments as a rookie, the Raiders only won three games and earned the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. This led to head coach Pete Carroll getting fired after one season.
It was a big surprise that the Raiders struggled so much with the legendary coach at the helm. Carroll was a big reason why Jeanty was excited to join Las Vegas. He’s a run-first coach who is great with his players.
For a number of reasons, it just didn’t end up working out, but that doesn’t mean Jeanty didn’t cherish his time with Carroll.
“I mean, it was great. Pete Carroll, just a great coach, a great player’s coach,” Jeanty told Heavy Sports about his experience with Carroll. “You can tell that, you know, he really cares for the player, the person, beyond what football can offer. So obviously it didn’t work out, but you know, I’m grateful for the time that I have with him.”
Carroll’s one season with the Raiders will be an odd blip on his Hall of Fame resume, but it doesn’t discount what he did during his legendary run with the Seattle Seahawks.
Jeanty Now Getting Chance to Work With Klint Kubiak
While Carroll is a run-first coach, he comes from a defensive background, so he didn’t add much to the offensive scheme. Jeanty is now going to have a coach who is considered a very strong playcaller, especially in the run game.
The Raiders are expected to hire Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak after the Super Bowl. Seattle had a top-10 rushing attack in the NFL this season, and they did it without a running back of Jeanty’s caliber. His rookie season may have been, but he has a chance to put up huge numbers in a Kubiak offense.
Plus, the Raiders could be upgrading at quarterback, as they are likely to use the No. 1 pick on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Having a real threat at quarterback will only make it easier for Jeanty to make plays on the ground.
Jeanty’s Work With USAA
It’s no secret that Jeanty comes from a military background. His father was a chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy, so the running back grew up on military bases.
While his path took him to the NFL, he hasn’t forgotten how important the military is to him. He has partnered with USAA and Disabled American Veterans to give a surprise Super Bowl trip to U.S. Army veteran Sgt. Noah Galloway.
“USAA and the NFL and myself in collaboration to put this together … I’m just extremely thankful for this partnership and obviously doing wonderful things for wonderful people, you know, (Noah Galloway) serving his country, putting his life on the line, and many others. Extreme appreciation for all those who serve our country,” Jeanty told Heavy Sports.
Ashton Jeanty Gets Honest on Raiders Firing Pete Carroll: Exclusive