The Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl parade had all the ingredients of a championship celebration - fans flooding the streets, players soaking in the moment, and a head coach taking a stand for his guys. But amid the confetti and cheers, Mike Macdonald made it clear: if you're going to talk about his players, you better get their names right.
Fresh off the Seahawks’ victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60, the team brought the party home to Lumen Field on Wednesday. It was more than just a celebration - it was a statement. And when wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba grabbed the mic to address the crowd, his head coach wasn’t far behind, ready to back him up.
“Put some respect on that man’s name,” Macdonald told the roaring crowd after Smith-Njigba’s speech - a pointed message that didn’t need much decoding.
Though Macdonald didn’t drop any names, the target was pretty clear. The comment came just days after comedian Druski stirred up controversy at the NFL Honors by intentionally mispronouncing Smith-Njigba’s name during a live segment. The moment, which was supposed to be light-hearted, missed the mark - especially when the botched pronunciation veered into offensive territory.
Smith-Njigba, for his part, kept it professional and didn’t respond publicly. But his team wasn’t about to let it slide.
The Seahawks’ social media team quickly fired back that night, standing up for their young wideout with a sharp post that read: “Hall of Famer Barry Sanders drew the short straw getting stuck with @druski’s big whiff tonight. Put some respect on @Seahawks WR @jaxon_smith1’s name.”
It’s not often you see a head coach weigh in on something like this, especially during a Super Bowl victory parade - but that’s what makes this Seahawks team tick. They’re tight-knit, they’ve got each other’s backs, and they’re not afraid to speak up when something doesn’t sit right.
Smith-Njigba played a key role in Seattle’s championship run, and Macdonald wasn’t about to let his moment be overshadowed by a bad joke. The message was simple, but powerful: if you’re going to talk about Jaxon Smith-Njigba, make sure you say it with the respect he’s earned - on and off the field.