All articles tagged with #mike macdonald
Seattle edged the Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX behind a stifling defensive game plan by 38-year-old Mike Macdonald, with Sam Darnold contributing steady play and earning a championship ring after a winding NFL journey. Postgame microphones captured a joyous exchange as Macdonald told Darnold, 'You’re a Super Bowl champion—no one can take that from us.' The Seahawks’ young core suggests more battles ahead for the franchise.
Seattle dominated in Super Bowl LX to win 29-13 over the Patriots, and coach Mike Macdonald says the Seahawks have flipped from under-the-radar hunters to the hunted, vowing to push forward with a 'chasing edges' mentality as they prepare for 2026, hire an offensive coordinator after Klint Kubiak departs, celebrate with a Seattle parade, and chase another title.
Seattle, guided by GM John Schneider and coach Mike Macdonald, built a championship-ready roster through patient drafting and a cohesive staff, leaned on Sam Darnold’s leadership, and executed a game plan that bottled up New England to win 29–13 in Super Bowl LX, confirming they were contenders all season and delivering it through teamwork and smart scheming.
Sam Darnold silenced the 'draft bust' label by delivering steady leadership and play for Seattle, with coach Mike Macdonald praising his consistency and character since arriving from multiple prior teams, as the Seahawks won Super Bowl LX.
Mike Macdonald finished third in the 2025 Coach of the Year voting after steering the Seahawks from 9-8 to 14-3 and a Super Bowl berth, as Mike Vrabel won the award; Liam Coen finished second, Ben Johnson fourth, and Seattle heads to Super Bowl LX against New England for the Lombardi Trophy.
Amid a star-studded Super Bowl media blitz, the Seattle Seahawks faced nonstop questions during Opening Night and subsequent sessions but stayed laser-focused on winning, with players downplaying distractions and coach Mike Macdonald repeatedly invoking their 'M.O.B.' (Mission Over Bullshit) mindset as they prepare for the franchise's second Super Bowl.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell named Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald the third-best NFL head coaching hire since 2021, praising his impact in turning Seattle into a top defensive and offensive unit with a franchise-best regular-season run and a deep playoff push; the piece notes his prior success as Ravens DC and the emergence of players like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed, while acknowledging Barnwell’s critique of his fourth-down play-calling.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald dismissed any idea that Drake Maye’s illness and right shoulder injury would affect his performance in Super Bowl LX, saying he’s not factoring Maye’s health into preparation and expects him to play at MVP level; Maye missed Friday practice, but Macdonald indicated there’s no reason to doubt he’ll be ready for game day.
Seattle's blitz-averse defense under Mike Macdonald struggled to generate pressure against the Rams in the NFC Championship, allowing Matthew Stafford to pass for 374 yards and 3 touchdowns while L.A. moved the ball effectively. Seattle still managed to hold the Rams to 27 points and, in the end, the offense and special teams carried the win. The piece argues that Macdonald’s conservative approach remains central to Seattle’s identity and could keep them in the Super Bowl race, though it may require tweaks against New England.
Sam Darnold threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns as the Seahawks beat the Rams 31-27 to reach Super Bowl LX against the Patriots, a win that underscores Mike Macdonald’s defense-first rebuild and Seattle’s bold roster moves, including Emmanwori’s rise and Smith-Njigba’s emergence. The piece also notes Woolen’s costly late sequence affecting free-agent value, and provides AFC context with Payton’s snowstorm misstep and Patriots rookie Will Campbell and Maye needing to step up to compete in Santa Clara.
The Ravens’ hiring of Jesse Minter is framed as continuing the proven blueprint shared with Mike Macdonald—smart, process-driven defense and a strong culture—with early praise from insiders; the piece also flags Joe Brady and Kliff Kingsbury as OC candidates and notes Notre Dame coach Mike Mickens joining the staff as a key booster for the secondary.
Sports Illustrated profiles Mike Macdonald, a 2010 Leonard Scholar from the University of Georgia whose leadership-focused education helped him rise from Ravens coach to Seattle Seahawks head coach. The piece highlights how the Leonard Scholars program—emphasizing integrity, long-term thinking and collaboration—shaped his approach, how early coaching stints and internships guided his path, and how Seahawks executives like John Schneider prioritized leadership alignment to build a winning team.
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald provided injury updates, including Coby Bryant's recovery process and the status of other players like Josh Jones, Tory Horton, George Holani, and Chazz Surratt, ahead of their game against the Carolina Panthers. Jones is expected to start again, while others are working through their injuries with some uncertainty about their return this season.
Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks' defensive coordinator, has been intentionally holding back his innovative defensive schemes to prevent overwhelming his players, especially with key players like Spoon, Love, and Emmanwori returning from injury, promising an even more aggressive Seahawks defense ahead.
The Seattle Seahawks' defense, led by Mike Macdonald, has relied heavily on team pressure rather than individual pass rushers, which has become less effective as their pressure rate declines and opponents exploit their vulnerabilities, especially in the secondary. The article suggests Macdonald needs to adapt his strategy, possibly by increasing blitzes or changing schemes, to better counter NFL offenses and improve their defensive performance.