Michael Macdonald didn’t just climb the coaching ladder-he climbed both sides of the Harbaugh family tree to get to Super Bowl 60.
Now in just his second season as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Macdonald has led his team to the sport’s biggest stage, where they’ll face off against the New England Patriots. It’s a meteoric rise, but one that’s been years in the making-shaped by two of football’s most influential coaching minds: John and Jim Harbaugh.
And yes, Macdonald has roots with both.
A Tale of Two Harbaughs
Macdonald’s NFL journey began in Baltimore in 2014, where he started as a coaching intern under John Harbaugh with the Ravens. Nearly a decade later, he returned to Baltimore as defensive coordinator and helped turn the Ravens into one of the league’s stingiest defenses. But in between those stints, Macdonald made a pivotal stop in Ann Arbor-joining Jim Harbaugh at Michigan in 2021.
That one-year detour? It changed everything.
Jim Harbaugh brought Macdonald in to replace Don Brown as defensive coordinator after a disappointing 2-4 COVID-shortened season in 2020. What followed was a defensive transformation.
Michigan went 12-2, won the Big Ten, and made its first College Football Playoff appearance. The defense ranked eighth nationally in scoring, giving up just 17.4 points per game.
Aidan Hutchinson became a household name, racking up 14 sacks and finishing second in Heisman voting.
“That was a really special, connected, tough football team,” Macdonald said at Super Bowl 60 Opening Night in Santa Clara. “It was like, ‘OK, this is what works.’ This is a formula that you can apply to another group.”
That formula? It’s showing up again in Seattle.
Back in Baltimore, Building a Defensive Juggernaut
After his year at Michigan, Macdonald returned to the Ravens in 2022 as defensive coordinator, and he wasted no time making an impact. That season, Baltimore finished third in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 18.5 points per game. In 2023, they were even better-best in the league, in fact-allowing just 16.5 points per game.
The Ravens went 13-4 and made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game, where they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs. But Macdonald’s stock had skyrocketed. Seattle came calling, and since taking over, he’s led the Seahawks to a 24-10 record over two seasons and now, a Super Bowl appearance.
He credits much of that success to John Harbaugh.
“I don’t think it’s possible to overstate his influence on me,” Macdonald said. “I love John Harbaugh.
He’s one of my biggest mentors. He was willing to take chances on me when other people weren’t.
He had a vision for me and my career that I probably didn’t have for myself.”
A Coaching Web That Keeps Expanding
Macdonald isn’t the only coach with ties to both Harbaughs. Jesse Minter, another rising defensive mind, has followed a similar path.
He coached with the Ravens before joining Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, where he helped the Wolverines win the national title in 2023 as defensive coordinator. Minter then spent time with the Chargers before being brought back to Baltimore-this time as defensive coordinator-after John Harbaugh left to coach the New York Giants.
“I think it’s a situation where you’re happy for everybody involved,” Macdonald said. “John’s in a great situation in New York.
Jesse’s in a great spot too. He’s going to do a phenomenal job.”
The Harbaugh Coaching Trees: A Closer Look
Jim Harbaugh’s Coaching Tree
Jim’s coaching tree has produced a mix of college and NFL head coaches, many of whom got their start under him at Stanford or Michigan.
- David Shaw: Took over at Stanford after Harbaugh left and compiled a 96-54 record over 12 seasons. He’s now with the Detroit Lions as passing game coordinator.
- Vic Fangio: A longtime defensive coordinator under Harbaugh, Fangio later became head coach of the Denver Broncos and is now running the Eagles’ defense. He helped Philly win Super Bowl 59.
- D.J. Durkin: Served as Michigan’s DC in 2015 before becoming Maryland’s head coach.
His tenure ended amid controversy, and he most recently served as interim head coach at Auburn.
- Don Brown: Michigan’s defensive coordinator from 2016-2020, Brown has been the head coach at UMass since 2022.
- Sherrone Moore: Took over Michigan after Jim Harbaugh left for the Chargers. Moore posted a 16-8 record in two seasons before being dismissed by the university for misconduct.
- Jedd Fisch: Former Michigan passing game coordinator, Fisch has since held head coaching roles at Arizona and Washington, compiling a 32-33 FBS record.
John Harbaugh’s Coaching Tree
John’s tree is rooted in Baltimore and has produced several successful NFL head coaches.
- Rex Ryan: Baltimore’s defensive coordinator in 2008, Ryan led the Jets to back-to-back AFC title games and also coached the Bills.
- Chuck Pagano: After a stint as Ravens DC, Pagano became Colts head coach and took them to the AFC Championship in 2014.
- Jim Caldwell: Former Colts head coach, Caldwell joined the Ravens staff before leading the Lions to two playoff appearances.
- Gary Kubiak: Served as Ravens OC in 2014, then led the Broncos to a Super Bowl 50 win before stepping down due to health issues.
- Todd Monken: Baltimore’s OC from 2023-25, Monken recently took over the play-calling duties in Cleveland.
From Intern to Super Bowl
From a coaching intern in Baltimore to one of the youngest head coaches in a Super Bowl, Macdonald’s journey is a testament to vision, mentorship, and execution. The fingerprints of both Harbaughs are all over his coaching DNA-and now, with a Lombardi Trophy in reach, Macdonald has a chance to carve out his own legacy.
The Harbaugh coaching trees have produced some serious branches over the years. But if Macdonald hoists the trophy on Sunday, he’ll be more than just another branch-he might just be the next trunk.