For all Carroll has accomplished, this season might go down as one of his best coaching jobs. In the offseason, Carroll made some tough decisions to overhaul his coaching staff, and the addition of defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr., offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and offensive line coach Mike Solari have all paid dividends. Carroll and Schneider also oversaw a pretty significant amount of roster turnover, particularly on defense, but they said all along that the Seahawks weren't rebuilding, and indeed the Seahawks are back in the playoffs despite the loss of a number of Pro-Bowl defensive players.

And it's not just that the Seahawks are winning again this year; Carroll and his players have also noted at various times that this particular team is having as much fun as just about any team in recent years. At 67, Carroll is the oldest head coach in the NFL, at least according to his birth certificate, but in a year when he and his players have talked repeatedly about how much fun this team is having, it's no surprise that Carroll isn't interested in seeing his decorated career come to an end anytime soon.

"I'm thankful for the fun we're having in this season," Carroll said last month. "To see these guys work so hard and share this experience that they're having—and it has been ongoing. I've talked about it consistently to you guys since the offseason when they saw the opportunities and they went for it, and the attitude has just been so upbeat and so positive that they're enjoying it. It's not just what you see in a locker room after a win, it's what these guys do on a daily basis. They're really good to be around, fun to be around and I'm thankful that they make it fun for me and I'm enjoying the heck out of it. Lucky to be here.

"There is just a real upbeat aura about this team. They're real hungry to learn, they're hungry for the challenges. They've just been real competitive throughout and they've enjoyed the challenges. They have not allowed themselves to go downward at any time, they keep looking to the future and what's up and what's coming. It's just been a really good group to work with."

While Carroll might be best known for the positive and winning culture he has created in Seattle, one that balances the ability to celebrate individualism while also having a disciplined team that always plays with a high level of effort, Carroll has also proven during his time in Seattle to be one of the best defensive minds of his era. From 2012 to 2015, the Seahawks led the league in scoring defense four straight times, something never before accomplished during the Super Bowl era. Seattle's Super Bowl winning 2013 defense led the league in total defense, passing defense, scoring defense and takeaways, and in Super Bowl XLVIII it held the highest scoring offense in NFL history to a single touchdown.

And Carroll's contract extension doesn't just keep him in Seattle, it also continues what has been a great partnership between coach and general manager dating back to when Carroll and Schneider were hired in January of 2010.