Pete Carroll publicly spoke Monday afternoon for the first time since agreeing to terms to become the Seahawks’ next coach.

At a USC news conference, Carroll spoke mostly about leaving the program where he spent nine years and deferred most of the questions about joining the Seahawks. Carroll and the Seahawks will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. ET Tuesday (which, incidentally, will air live on NFL Network and be streamed on NFL.com).

Carroll did confirm that his deal with the Seahawks was finalized Sunday night and signed Monday. NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi reports the deal is for five years with a value of $35 million.

As for his new role with the Seahawks, he referred several times to how unique the opportunity is.

“I never thought this would happen,” Carroll said. “I’ve given it enough time and enough thought and consideration over the years. I didn’t think that it would happen, but it did. It changed my outlook. That’s what happened here. I thought I would be here forever, and then this came along. It’s an opportunity I can’t pass up.”

“What this next step presents is the challenge of a lifetime,” he added.

Carroll said he had no expectation there would be an opportunity for him in the NFL, a hint that he was approached by Seahawks. And for Carroll, it’s apparent in his comments that the allure of returning to the NFL and the highest level of compeition is the fuel for his fire.

“I’ve always felt that that’s the highest level of competition,” he said. “It’s the most intense. … There’s a different focus there. Honestly, and the guys who have been around me, you guys know how I’ve looked at that over the years. There was never an opportunity that was right to go to the next step. I’m just absolutely attracted to that competitive aspect of the whole thing.”

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