Mike Macdonald hired as Seahawks coach: Seattle fit, NFL buzz

Seattle According to sources who spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday, the Seattle Seahawks have signed defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald of the Baltimore Ravens to a six-year contract, making him their new head coach.

After leading the Ravens to the top of the league in points allowed, sacks, and takeaways in 2023— his second season as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator— Macdonald, 36, becomes the youngest head coach in the NFL and carries a reputation as one of the best defensive minds to Seattle. Pete Carroll, 72, will not serve as the Seahawks’ coach in 2024, as the team confirmed earlier this month. Macdonald will take over for Carroll. Carroll is still an advisor for the Seahawks.

Looking more closely, national writer Dan Graziano discusses what he’s hearing about Macdonald, NFL draft analyst Matt Miller looks ahead to the draft, and Seahawks reporter Brady Henderson responds to some of the major queries surrounding the hiring. Mike Tannenbaum, a front office analyst, rates the Seahawks’ hire in the end.

Seahawks go this direction? Henderson: The Seahawks aren’t going to get back to their glory days of a decade ago unless they can get by the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, NFC West foes coached by brilliant offensive minds that have had Seattle’s number of late. San Francisco has been the far superior team talent-wise in recent seasons, but both division rivals have had a major edge over Seattle in terms of offensive scheme. That presented a central question in the Seahawks’ coaching search: Should they hire an offensive coach who will keep up in scoring with Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, or a defensive coach who will help stop them?