Seattle Seahawks coach Jim Mora has been fired, the first coach in team history to be let go after one season, and league sources say longtime USC coach Pete Carroll is being targeted as Mora's replacement.
Mora attended a meeting Friday morning with management, at which time he was told by Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke that he did not win enough games to save his job. The Seahawks lost their final four games to finish 5-11.
Mora was shocked by his dismissal, believing that when he was called to Lieweke's office that he they would be in discussion about the team's vacant general manager's job, Seahawks sources said.
"We've made a tough decision today," Leiweke said in a statement. "It became apparent after conducting an extensive internal audit that a new direction was needed to provide an opportunity for the organization to be successful. Today's decision, while difficult, is part of the process in building a franchise with a new vision in 2010."
As for the possibility of being courted by the Seahawks, Carroll said via text message: "You know I haven't responded to a NFL question in two years."
But a league source said Carroll is interested in the job and is trying to persuade USC offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates to join him in Seattle -- as opposed to Bates pursuing the same position with the Chicago Bears.
Said another source close to Carroll: "You're about to see a big headline that shakes up the major college football world," in reference to the Seahawks' development. The Seahawks did not confirm Carroll as a leading candidate but also did not deny it.
