The Pete Carroll era in Foxborough
Carroll arrived in New England on Feb. 3, 1997 as the replacement for the departed Bill Parcells. Team owner Robert Kraft handed him a team that had just lost to the Packers in Super Bowl XXXI.
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Carroll came to the Patriots with just one season of NFL head coaching experience, in 1994 with the Jets. He went 6-10 that year, and 1-1 against Parcells' Patriots, including this 24-13 loss in Foxborough.
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Carroll, though unproven on his own, inherited a team with a Pro Bowl quarterback in Drew Bledsoe that many expected to continue as an AFC force.
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Carroll teamed with personnel chief Bobby Grier, left, to make up the Patriots' post-Parcells brain trust.
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The first draft pick of the Carroll era, cornerback Chris Canty, turned into a bust. He was out of the NFL after four seasons following his selection as the 29th overall pick.
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Carroll's debut came in a preseason Super Bowl rematch against the Packers in Green Bay. The Patriots lost, 7-3.
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Carroll was known for his upbeat personality and his enthusiasm, but also could get fiery with officials at times.
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The Patriots slumped during Carroll's first year, at one point losing five of seven games to the chagrin of fans at Foxboro Stadium.
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But the 1997 season turned around when Carroll led the Patriots to a 27-24 win over Jimmy Johnson's Dolphins in November. The Patriots would win three of their final four games to claim the division title with a 10-6 record.
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The good times rolled for Carroll into the playoffs when the Patriots defeated the Dolphins again, 17-3, in the wild-card round. Their run would end the next week, however, in a 7-6 loss to the Steelers.
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Carroll was dejected at this October 1998 session with reporters during a stretch where his Patriots lost four of five games.
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The 1998 season was salvaged when Carroll tapped backup QB Scott Zolak to play for an injured Drew Bledsoe. That keyed a 24-21 win over the 49ers at home to clinch a playoff berth.
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Carroll's teams included a number of players who would contribute to the Patriots' Super Bowl wins under Bill Belichick. Tedy Bruschi, right, played in all three of Carroll's years with the Patriots.
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Carroll's final season began on a high note when he defeated his predecessor Bill Parcells' Jets on their home turf, 30-28, in 1999.
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But after a 6-2 start, the Patriots' season spiraled out of control. At one point, Carroll's team lost six of seven games.
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Carroll saluted the Foxboro Stadium fans after winning the finale of the 1999 season. That brought the Patriots back to .500 at 8-8, but still left them on the outside of the playoff field.
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Carroll was fired early in January 2000 with a 27-21 record in three seasons as Patriots coach. He would go on to lead the University of Southern California to an NCAA title and an 83-19 record in nine seasons before returning to the NFL with Seattle in 2010.
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