The Seattle Seahawks will maintain the defensive tone at the head coaching position by hiring Mike Macdonald. They will also go from having the oldest coach in the league, Pete Carroll, to the youngest, the former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator. ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared that the Seahawks will give Macdonald a six-year contract.
The Seahawks formally announced after the Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. While Baltimore fell short of Super Bowl LVIII, Macdonald helped turn their defense into one of the league’s best.
A youth movement in Seattle: Seahawks are expected to hire Ravens’ defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald as their new head coach, league sources tell ESPN. They’re still finalizing the deal, but Seattle has its man.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 31, 2024
At 36, Macdonald becomes the NFL’s youngest head coach. pic.twitter.com/uZ3vbXTS4n
Under his guidance, the Ravens ranked sixth in total yards allowed (301.4) and first in points allowed (16.5) per game this season. They also led the league in sacks with 60. Macdonald’s coaching helped four of his players become All-Pros this year: Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, Justin Madubuike, and Patrick Queen.
Before joining John Harbaugh’s crew in 2022, Mike Macdonald was with Jim Harbaugh as the Michigan Wolverines’ defensive coordinator. His first stint in Baltimore started in 2014, and he held various defensive coaching positions until 2020. He was also a defensive quality control assistant with the Georgia Bulldogs before joining the Ravens.
Macdonald will coach a Seahawks team that barely missed this season’s playoffs. Geno Smith will lead an offense featuring DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockette, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Kenneth Walker III.
But with defense being his specialty, he will work with Second Team All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner, who led the league in tackles with 183. The Seahawks also have Pro Bowl cornerbacks Tariq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon. Strong safety Julian Love also made it to this season’s Pro Bowl, while Boye Mafe led the squad with nine sacks.
Despite having those talented players, the Seahawks finished third-worst in total yards allowed (371.4), second-worst in rushing yards allowed (138.4), and 25th in points allowed (23.6) per game this season.
The Seahawks finished the 2023 season at 9-8, their 11th winning season in 12 years. However, they haven’t won a playoff game since 2019 and are 1-4 in postseason games since 2018.
-Lance Fernandez