Pete Carroll says he loves beating Jim Harbaugh

By Jack Maloney | Jun 5, 2014

May 27, 2014; Renton, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll talks with quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during stretching before organized team activities at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

Now that both the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks are good, their rivalry has picked up plenty of steam in the past few years. For a long time, no contention existed between the two because in order to have a serious rivalry, you usually need both teams to be good. And for many years in the last decade or so, the 49ers were not good at all. The Seahawks, meanwhile, had some very good years, going to a Super Bowl in 2006, but also had plenty of mediocre ones as well.

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And so, with both teams essentially toiling away in mediocrity, tensions never developed because there was nothing at stake when the two teams met. But now? Well now there’s plenty at stake, because the two squads have represented the NFC in the last two Super Bowls. They’re among the best teams in the league, and likely will be for years to come.

While the competition between the players on the field is intense, it doesn’t stop there. Even the coaches have become part of the rivalry. And last night Pete Carroll got the latest jab in. Talking during a Seahawks town hall meeting, he made a little joke to close the night.

From The Seattle Times

"Finally, Carroll was asked about the rivalry with the 49ers and Jim Harbaugh. He gave a lengthy answer in which he repeated his oft-stated philosophy about every week being a “championship opportunity” and how the team can’t afford to make one game any bigger than the other. But he ended with an applause line in saying that Harbaugh is “a great coach and we love beating him.”"

Just a little harmless trash talk, but pretty funny from Carroll. These two teams don’t square off until week 13, so I expect we’ll see a response from Harbaugh before then.