The Seattle Seahawks are returning to the playoffs this year following an offseason wrought with roster turnover and coaching staff changes. Many predicted a rebuilding year for the Seahawks and a mediocre final record, at best. Instead, Seattle will be playing football in January and coach Pete Carroll has been signed to a multi-year contract extension.

Carroll gave a glimpse Monday into how it was done.

“Stay with what we know,” Carroll started. “Stay with belief in who we are and what it takes and just outlast anybody who’s naysaying it and can’t see it. It’s like Coach (John) Wooden said a long time ago, you don’t change your philosophy year to year. The players change and that’s where the changes come from.

“You either believe in something or you don’t, and I think just staying the course and knowing that we’re onto something – just believing in the history.”

“So grateful to Jody and the organization. I love this team and couldn’t be more proud to represent the 12s.” – @PeteCarroll on his multi-year contract extension. pic.twitter.com/7B8mkUyjuJ — Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 24, 2018

Seattle began the shuffle at the close of last season, parting ways with seasoned veterans, grizzled starters and fan favorites. Other big names like Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril were shut down due to injuries. Through the NFL Draft, free agency and the waiver wire, Seattle has quickly put together a winning team, and a likable one at that.

“Look at how there’s a whole different personality about our team,” Carroll continued. “I hear people talking about it. The guys on the radio were talking about how they’re finding their favorites that they didn’t even see before but now there’s new stories and new storylines and new guys to be excited about and they’re going to watch guys grow in this program and it’s going to be fun because of what they bring to it.”

Carroll has always preached the next-man-up mentality and this season is a strong example of a team rising to the occasion. The Seahawks are now playoff bound and Carroll and his staff did it with a whole new set of faces.

“That’s the dance and that’s the fun part of this.”