Every year a number of very smart, capable coaches (head coaches, coordinators, and assistant coaches) make the decision to walk away from football and sometimes it's a call that leaves people everywhere scratching their heads wondering why.
Why do seemingly healthy coaches who have seen success, or seem to have plenty of passion left in the "passion bucket" decide to hang up the whistle?
That's a question that Seattle head coach Pete Carroll was asked in a recent sit down with Bleacher Report, and Carroll responded by clarifying that it has nothing to do with their lack of ability as a coach or play caller.
"Coaches don't lose their expertise and ability to make the calls. There comes a time when they lose their ability to fight the fight.I think that drive to fight the fight day in and day out, I think that can go away. You can lose that."
"The stress of having to continue to fight the fight day in and day out, whatever it is, that which keeps you driving. You can get to a place where you no longer want to do that," Carroll explained. "It’s not that you’re not smart anymore; it’s that you’re unwilling to do it. Coaches who coach know what I’m talking about."
"You just keep battling to help your coaches and your players, to refine your scheme, to break down your opponent, to find ways to travel and take care of your players. When that starts to not matter and you can’t find the energy for it, that’s when it’s time."
Carroll made it clear that "there is no time" where he doesn't feel like that. He's got plenty of gas left in the tank at age 64.