Mike Macdonald: The Rise of the NFL’s Newest Coaching Star
ATHENS – Mike Macdonald is approaching the Seattle Seahawks’ NFC championship game showdown against Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams with a focused, businesslike demeanor. Seahawks fans wouldn’t expect anything less from the NFL’s fastest-rising coaching star. In just his second season as head coach, Macdonald has guided Seattle (14-3) to its best record since the “Legion of Boom” era culminated in a Super Bowl victory in 2014.
Those familiar with Macdonald’s background and those who have worked alongside him aren’t surprised by his success. His career began at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, where he earned a finance degree in 2010 and a master’s in sports management in 2013, simultaneously contributing to coach Mark Richt’s Bulldogs’ staff as a graduate assistant and football analyst.
Early Coaching Roots
Macdonald’s football journey actually started in Athens, Georgia, coaching linebackers and running backs at Cedar Shoals High School (2008-09) while still a college student. “I just remember Mike being a really bright guy, and obviously he has turned out to be a pretty damn good leader, too,” Richt recalls. “He was a student assistant for us, working diligently after his high school coaching stint. He was incredibly reliable; if you entrusted him with a task, it would be completed quickly and effectively.”
Lessons from Baltimore
Tee Martin, who quarterbacked Tennessee to the 1998 national championship, coached with Macdonald on John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens staff in 2022 and 2023. He emphasizes Macdonald’s organizational skills and intelligence. “The way he ran that defense, he knew how to paint the picture of how they would need to play to be successful, and then he had his methods to get into that and make sure it worked,” Martin explained to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Mike knew how to adjust because he understood his defense really well, and in his second year, we had the No. 1 defense and set records.”
Indeed, the 2023 Ravens defense made history, becoming the first in NFL history to lead the league in fewest points allowed, sacks, and takeaways in the same season, while also boasting the NFL’s best yards-per-game allowed (191.9). NFL Defensive Rankings
From Baltimore to Seattle
The Atlanta Falcons interviewed Macdonald for their head coaching vacancy in January 2024, but ultimately hired Raheem Morris. Less than three weeks later, Macdonald was hired by Seattle, succeeding Pete Carroll after his 14-year tenure. Macdonald retained six defensive starters from Carroll’s unit and revamped the inside linebacker corps.
The results were immediate. Seattle improved from 30th in the NFL in yards allowed per game to 13th in Macdonald’s first season, and from 25th in points allowed to 12th. Martin notes Macdonald’s ability to maximize player potential: “Same in Baltimore, Mike was able to get the best players to play at their best levels… When you can lead like that, you have the opportunity to advance in the NFL coaching ranks.”
The ‘Dark Side’ Defense
Macdonald’s approach centers on clarity and simplicity. “Make it so it’s simple and clear for the guys they can play the right way…” he shared. This approach has yielded a formidable defense, nicknamed the “Dark Side,” currently leading the NFL in scoring defense (17.2 points per game), limiting opponents to the league’s lowest yards-per-carry (3.7), and fewest points per possession (1.48).
Seattle linebackers coach Chris Partridge describes Macdonald as “old school with new-school principles.” “He has an old-school mentality with how he wants the team to look, with the toughness, and how we play the game… He’s always constantly chasing edges and find the advantages, not only schematically, but program-wise.”
Facing Stafford and the Rams
Matthew Stafford, a leading NFL MVP candidate, has faced Macdonald’s defense twice this season, with mixed results. He acknowledges the challenge: “It’s a big test playing against their team… They do a nice job changing things up.”
Macdonald emphasizes the importance of understanding opponents’ tendencies. “You’re always watching plays through the lens of what that team is known for doing… You go in thinking every play is for a reason, and you can string together some logic.”
Partridge highlights Macdonald’s authenticity as a key to his success. “What Mike does, is he’s just himself, and that’s why the players love him and want to play for him… There’s nothing fake there.”
Richt, brimming with pride, concludes, “I’m excited for him… one of them is guaranteed to be in the Super Bowl, and they’ll probably win it.”
