As the NFL coaching carousel spins into high gear this offseason, all eyes are on the fresh faces taking over franchises with playoff dreams and Lombardi aspirations. But while some teams are still asking whether they got the right guy, the Seattle Seahawks already have their answer.
Two years into the Mike Macdonald era, the Seahawks aren’t just trending up-they’re knocking on the door of greatness. And according to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, Seattle’s decision to hand the reins to the former Ravens defensive coordinator ranks as the third-best head coaching hire since 2021. Only Detroit’s Dan Campbell and Philadelphia’s Nick Sirianni-coaches who’ve delivered playoff wins and Super Bowl appearances-landed higher.
That’s elite company, and Macdonald has earned his spot.
When he arrived in 2024, the Seahawks were a team stuck in the middle. One playoff appearance in three years.
Struggles against division rivals like the Rams and 49ers. A defense that couldn’t get off the field and an offense that couldn’t consistently keep up.
Fast forward to today, and Seattle just wrapped up a franchise-best 14-win regular season and punched its ticket to Super Bowl 60 with playoff wins over both of those NFC West foes.
That’s not just a turnaround. That’s a transformation.
Macdonald’s impact has been felt on both sides of the ball. Seattle finished the 2025 regular season with the fewest points allowed in the NFL and a top-three scoring offense-an elite balance that few teams can claim.
For context, two years ago the Seahawks ranked 17th in scoring (21.4 points per game) and 25th in points allowed (23.6). That kind of leap doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens when a coach installs a culture, builds trust, and gets buy-in from every corner of the locker room.
And this isn’t a one-off success. Macdonald’s defensive chops were on full display back in Baltimore, where he took the Ravens from 19th to 3rd in scoring defense in his first year as DC.
In 2023, they allowed a league-low 16.5 points per game and gave up 30 points just twice all season. That track record of elevating defensive units has translated seamlessly to Seattle, where he’s built one of the most complete rosters in football.
But Macdonald’s influence goes beyond scheme. He’s helped unlock career years from key players across the board.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba exploded in 2025, leading the league with 1,793 receiving yards and becoming the first Seahawks receiver to top 100 catches in a season. Sam Darnold, brought in after a stint in Minnesota, validated the team’s decision to move on from Geno Smith by posting a career-high 67.7% completion rate and delivering steady, efficient quarterback play.
Defensively, the stars have been just as bright. Devon Witherspoon, Ernest Jones IV, Leonard Williams, and midseason pickup Rashid Shaheed all earned All-Pro honors.
Williams, in particular, was a force-starting all 17 games, tying for the team lead in sacks (7.0), and earning his second straight Pro Bowl nod. These aren’t just individual accolades-they’re proof that Macdonald’s system is putting players in position to thrive.
And that’s the heart of what makes this Seahawks team special. They’re not built around one superstar.
They’re built around a collective identity-tough, disciplined, and unselfish. They play for each other.
They play to win. And under Macdonald, they’ve become a team that rises to the moment.
Sure, there are areas to nitpick-Barnwell, for one, raised questions about Macdonald’s fourth-down decision-making. But when you’re heading into the Super Bowl with the league’s best defense, a top-tier offense, and a roster full of players having career years, it’s hard to argue with the results.
Mike Macdonald has brought new life to football in the Pacific Northwest. In just two seasons, he’s taken the Seahawks from middling to menacing, from hopeful to dominant. Now, there’s just one more step to take.
On Sunday, the Seahawks have a chance to finish the job. And if they do, Macdonald won’t just be one of the best hires of the last five years-he’ll be the coach who brought a championship back to Seattle.