The Seattle Seahawks are one win away from the Super Bowl, and for head coach Mike Macdonald, Sunday’s NFC Championship matchup against the Los Angeles Rams marks the biggest moment of his young coaching career. But amid the pressure, preparation, and playoff intensity, Macdonald is also finding time-however brief-to stay grounded in something far more personal: fatherhood.
In a recent interview with Seattle’s KING-TV, Macdonald gave fans a glimpse into his routine during the grind of the postseason. Thursdays, he said, are especially tight. That’s when he carves out a short but meaningful window to spend time with his infant son, Jack.
“On Thursdays, I don’t get to see Jack as much,” Macdonald said. “I try to get home pretty quick to be with him maybe a half-hour, an hour before he goes to bed. Then I got a setup at my house where I can go and work on the game plan.”
It’s a small but telling detail about the life of a head coach in January. Every minute matters-on the field and at home. And for Macdonald, who became a first-time father in December 2024 during his debut season in Seattle, that balance between football and family is something he’s still learning to navigate.
His first year didn’t end with a playoff berth, but that was just the beginning. The Seahawks turned a major corner in 2025, finishing 14-3 and establishing themselves as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Now, they’re one win away from their first Super Bowl appearance since that unforgettable 2015 run, when Seattle stunned the Packers in the NFC title game with one of the most improbable comebacks in league history.
This time around, the stakes are just as high-but the team is led by a coach who’s not only building a championship culture, but also adjusting to life as a new dad.
“I’m able to spend some more time at home and be with Jack, and it kind of lets you get away from everything and see things from a different perspective,” Macdonald said.
That perspective is something you don’t often hear about during playoff week. Coaches are usually locked in, buried in film, and laser-focused on the X’s and O’s.
And make no mistake-Macdonald is doing all of that. But he’s also finding value in the moments that happen away from the whiteboard and the war room.
It’s a reminder that even in the highest-pressure situations, the human side of the game still matters. For Macdonald, it’s not just about preparing for the Rams’ defensive front or dialing up the right blitz package. It’s also about being present, even if only for 30 minutes, for bedtime with his son.
And if the Seahawks can punch their ticket to the Super Bowl on Sunday, it’ll be a milestone not just for the franchise, but for a coach balancing the demands of elite football with the joys-and challenges-of new fatherhood.