Can new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald re-create winning culture in Seattle?

Eric Williams

NFC West Writer

The Seattle Seahawks showed they were willing to be patient in their head coaching search. And general manager John Schneider appears to have found a partner to lead the franchise on the field after moving on from Pete Carroll.

According to multiple reports, the Seahawks are expected to sign Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to a six-year deal. Macdonald becomes the ninth head coach in franchise history, and at age 36, he will be the youngest head coach in the league, half the age of the man he’s succeeding.

Seattle underwent a thorough search to replace the most successful coach in franchise history. Those interviews included Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Macdonald.

Schneider took his time, trying to make sure he got it right. Remember that before Seattle landed Carroll in January 2010, the Seahawks labored through a 5-11 campaign in Jim Mora Jr.’s lone season as head coach after he replaced the retiring Mike Holmgren in 2009.

Macdonald served as Baltimore’s DC for two seasons. In 2023, the Ravens led the league in sacks (60) and points allowed per game (16.5). That’s a big get for Schneider as the Seahawks look to improve an underperforming defense.

However, it’s also a significant risk for the Seahawks to turn the franchise over to someone who has never worked as head coach or has a proven track record of building a consistent winner. And it’s also fair to question what kind of coaching staff Macdonald can bring in based on his relationships and networking around the league.

That said, Schneider had an opportunity to reimagine the way they do things in Seattle, and he appears to have done that with Macdonald. 

Here are a couple questions the new coach will have to answer in…

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Publish date : 2024-01-31 20:24:46

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