What is NFL head coach Pete Carroll’s unique sideline gum ritual in the NFL all about? Learn all there is to know.
The Seattle Seahawks’ head coach, Pete Carroll, is not only known for his successful coaching career but also for his distinctive sideline habit – chewing gum. As the Seahawks start the 2023 season with a 2-1 record, let’s delve into the curious world of Pete Carroll’s chewing gum preference and why it has become a topic of internet interest.
Pete Carroll took the helm as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks in 2010, and his impact on the team has been remarkable. Under his leadership, the Seahawks have reached the playoffs an impressive 10 times and clinched the Super Bowl title in 2013. Carroll’s combined record with the team stands at 130-82-1, making him a coaching legend in the NFL. Interestingly, before his NFL career, Carroll achieved great success in college football, winning back-to-back BCS national championships in 2003 and 2004 with the University of Southern California (USC).
What else is Pete Carroll best known for?
While Carroll’s coaching achievements are well-documented, his affinity for chewing gum on the sidelines has garnered its fair share of attention. Fans have often wondered about the type of gum Carroll prefers, and the answer is quite simple: he’s a Bubble Yum enthusiast.
Seahawks.com even reported that Carroll goes through approximately 15 pieces of gum on each game day. Over a 17-game regular season, that amounts to roughly 255 pieces. But where does all this gum come from? The Seahawks organization ensures that their head coach never runs out. According to an ESPN report, Erik Kennedy, the team’s director of equipment, and his son keep Carroll’s Bubble Yum supply well-stocked. As for his preferred flavor, it’s the classic original flavor of Bubble Yum, as confirmed by former Seahawks statistician Todd Nielson, who shared this tidbit with USA Today.
When did Pete Carroll’s unique habit start?
While Carroll’s gum-chewing habit is widely recognized today, the exact moment it started remains shrouded in mystery. The coach has never disclosed when he began this peculiar tradition. What we do know is that it has become an integral part of his sideline persona.
One memorable incident related to his gum-chewing was when Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson dressed up as Pete Carroll for Halloween, emphasizing the coach’s iconic habit. Carroll’s gum-chewing ritual has not been without its moments of messiness. The coach openly acknowledges that not all his gum ends up in the trash, even though he tries his best. Cameras have captured instances of him discarding gum on the sideline in moments of frustration.
However, despite the occasional littering, fans continue to adore this quirky aspect of Carroll’s personality. ESPN reported that a dedicated Seahawks fan, Tyler Freier, obtained a piece of game-used Carroll gum, which he preserved in a special resin container, even taking it across borders to his home in Germany.
What has Pete Carroll said about his habit?
The 72-year-old’s infatuation with chewing gum has become something of a sticking point with fans. Carroll says it’s his “only habit,” and that has confused him greatly. “People ask me all the time about it. It’s one of the silliest questions, I don’t know why anybody would ever care,” Carroll said to ESPN’s Adam Schefter in December 2022.
The obsession for Carroll’s gum-chewing habit crosses borders. As ESPN noted, Seahawks fan Tyler Freier got his hands on a piece of game-used Carroll gum and put it in a special resin container — Freier lives in Germany, making the unique piece of memorabilia truly one of a kind. As far as disposing of the gum, Carroll says he chucks it in the trash, or at least attempts to, but cameras have caught him throwing it in frustration more than once.
“What do you do with the gum when you’re done with it?” ESPN reporter Adam Schefter once asked Carroll. “Well that’s the problem,” Carroll said. “I don’t always hit the garbage cans, so sometimes they wind up on the ground somewhere.” Worrying about where the gum ends up is not at the top of Carroll’s to-do list, and he generally sees this whole “intervention” as a silly waste of time. “People ask me all the time about it. It’s one of the silliest questions, I don’t know why anybody would ever care. I have no idea why you’re even doing this piece,” he said with a smile.
At 72 years old, Pete Carroll shows no signs of quitting his most infamous habit. He views it as a harmless and entertaining quirk, making it clear that he has no intention of parting with his beloved gum-chewing tradition. So, for Seahawks fans and football enthusiasts alike, it appears that watching Carroll chew gum on the sidelines will remain a fixture for years to come.
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