NFL Legend Surprises Pete Carroll’s Rookies As Raiders Host Ex-Cowboys LB at Minicamp

When Pete Carroll took the Raiders’ helm, fans expected fireworks—but even Hollywood couldn’t script the surprise that lit up Henderson this week.

Marshawn Lynch, Carroll’s former Seattle Seahawks wrecking ball, crashed Raiders minicamp like a Skittles-fueled tornado. The five-time Pro Bowler, who helped Carroll hoist a Lombardi Trophy in 2014, hugged his old coach and roasted rookie Ashton Jeanty: “You need some clothes on. I don’t talk to you butt naked.”

Jeanty, drafted sixth overall after a Boise State tear (2,601 rushing yards, 29 TDs in 2024), might just be Carroll’s next Lynch. “There are similarities in his ability to make plays when it doesn’t feel like anything is there,” Carroll said post-draft. But Beast Mode wasn’t the only blast from the past turning heads.

Former Cowboys Pro Bowl linebacker Jaylon Smith, 29, is auditioning for a Raiders comeback. Once a tackling machine (142 stops in 2019), injuries derailed his career—yet Vegas is giving him another shot. Smith last played in 2023, logging two tackles in one Raiders game.

Meanwhile, Lynch’s visit wasn’t just nostalgia. The Kraken co-owner’s presence signals a bridge between Raiders eras. Can Jeanty channel “Beast Quake” energy? Can Smith relive his Dallas glory days?

This story is unfolding—stay locked in for the latest.