There are a handful of moments in a person’s life that leave such an indelible mark that their importance defies description. These moments might be shared, but the way they are filtered, understood and valued is so personal that it’s hard to explain their gravity in a way someone else can appreciate.

As someone who cares a disproportionate amount about sports, Carroll’s interview on the Brock and Salk show on February 3, 2015 — two days after the Super Bowl XLIX loss — is one of those moments for me. I’ll try to explain why.

In the immediate aftermath of Super Bowl XLIX, Seahawks fans raged, wept and fractured. For days we struggled to wrap our heads and hearts around stolen glory. Angry and lost, we crashed into one another, lashing out in frustration against an outcome that was unfair and unjust. We were raw and bleeding. We hurt so much.

Against this backdrop, Carroll joined Brock and Salk for his weekly radio show just days after the brutal loss. His approach to the conversation remains the most remarkable instance of grace I’ve witnessed in sports. He didn’t show up trying to make himself understood, to plead for mercy or make excuses. He showed up to speak directly to the fans in the capacity of grief counselor. In a moment when he had the right to hurt more than anyone, he set his own pain aside and gave of himself in an attempt to make others feel better.

Some of the things he said:

“I’ve got a lot of people that I love so dearly that I’ve got to take care of. It’s not just the ones that are close to your family. It’s our players, our coaches and all our loving fans that are out there.”

“I woke up thinking this morning of all the people saying ‘Why did this happen to me?’ It’s a football game, but it’s way bigger than that. And I understand that so many people wanna know why and how and ‘give me some reasons.’ The whys are something we just have to process through, the how is about moving ahead, and the moment has already passed and what are we going to do about it, and how are we gonna grow from it and how are we gonna make sense of it?”

“My life has been equipped to deal with these moments, and that’s what I’ve been made to do. I need to help if I can. We’re here for you.”

These quotes only scratch the surface, to appreciate the weight of the experience you have to transport yourself to that moment emotionally and listen to the interview.

It was a brilliant display of emotional intelligence. Carroll’s earnest attentiveness and sensitivity to the emotional state of his fan-base struck a chord that I’ve never seen another coach strike, regardless of sport.