Media Group Salutes Seahawks’ Pete Carroll

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was selected the winner of the 2014 Jack Horrigan Award by the Professional Football Writers of America. Given to a league or club official for professional style in helping pro football writers do their jobs, is named for the former sportswriter for UPI and the Buffalo Evening News who also served as public relations director for the American Football League (1963-66).

Carroll is the second member of the Seahawks organization to receive the honor. Former coach Mike Holmgren won in 2008. Carroll is the first head coach to win the Horrigan Award since the New York Jets’ Rex Ryan in 2011.

Carroll is regarded by beat writers as quotable during media sessions, and has been accessible and cooperative with the media since he came to Seattle in 2010.

“Aside from being accessible and articulate, Pete has a rare grasp of the emotional side of stories,” said Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune. “He’s never reluctant to recognize the effort, the dedication, the pain and the hardships attendant to an athlete’s life. Those tend to be some of his best quotes and give depth and a human dimension to the stories we tell.

“I was stunned one time after a press conference when he sought me out to elaborate on a question I had asked in a group-interview setting. He didn’t feel that he’d adequately answered the question and wanted to clarify and elaborate. It showed me that he’s not up there just firing off superficial answers, but actually engaged in the process. And, interestingly, as the Seahawks under Carroll have achieved greater success, he has seemed even more approachable and forthcoming rather than less so.”

The Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) is the official voice of pro football writers.

Former quarterback Warren Moon, who played for the Seahawks in 1997-98, won the award in 1993 while with the Houston Oilers.