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SAN FRANCISCO – Mike Macdonald is like “potato salad.” The Seattle Seahawks coach probably would have liked a nicer compliment, but it was delivered with good intentions.
This comparison is that of Boye Mafe, a linebacker for the Seahawks, who experienced the more flamboyant Pete Carroll era in Seattle.
“I say that in the sense that he is constant, we will always have the same quality of coaching with him and he will maintain the same level of demands towards us,” explained Mafe, making us laugh with this comparison.
Afterwards, we realized that it wasn’t that crazy of a parallel and here’s why. Before becoming a coach, Macdonald considered becoming an accountant. He had that rational, routine side of him like people who often turn to the comfort of potato salad.
But it must be admitted that he was not wrong in leaving aside office work for the football fields and colleagues in ties for sports uniforms.
By finding himself at the Super Bowl at age 38, during his first mandate as head coach, we can say that he joined the category of prodigies in the field including Sean McVay, Mike Tomlin and Jon Gruden who all lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy before blowing out 40 candles.
“It shows how much he loves and respects football. It shows in the way he leads our team and our defense. »
— Hide Mafe
Macdonald was handed the reins of the Seahawks thanks to his experience acquired with the Baltimore Ravens. Head coach John Harbaugh hired him when he was just 27 years old. From 2014 to 2023, he worked his way up from intern, to defensive assistant, defensive backs coach, linebackers coach and defensive coordinator.
“His influence has been enormous for me. He is one of my greatest mentors, he had the audacity to give me a chance when others refused. He had a vision for my career that was even bigger than the one I envisioned. I instilled many of his essential principles in Seattle. I couldn’t tell you how much I love John,” Macdonald testified.
Macdonald hired his former immediate superior
In 2016, Leslie Frazier, a highly experienced coach, stopped by the Ravens to lead the linebackers before being hired as offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills.
During this 2016 season, Frazier noticed the great potential of Macdonald who held the functions of assistant in defense.
In 2024, when Macdonald accepted the head coaching job in Seattle, he turned the tables by asking Frazier to come and support him as an assistant coach.
“Mike worked directly with me, I could see he was very bright and understood defensive concepts well. One day, I told myself, he would become a very good head coach. He worked very hard, he never lamented. No matter what was asked of him, no task was too demanding for him. It was very eye opening for me. I couldn’t wait to see how he would do. We meet again, about 10 years later, at the Super Bowl,” said Frazier, praising Macdonald’s great integrity.
Frazier began his coaching journey in the NFL in 1999. He has held defensive positions for over a quarter of a century and even became head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2011 to 2013.
In his eyes, it’s absolutely fascinating that Macdonald is able to lead the Seahawks in addition to selecting the majority of defensive strategies. In fact, Macdonald could become the first head coach to win the Super Bowl while calling the defensive plays.
“Offensive coaches are involved in all the big decisions that must be made such as contesting a decision, orchestrating the attack at the end of the game, taking timeouts. On defense, coaches prepare their unit more for the next series. It’s difficult to manage the defense as a head coach. I don’t remember seeing anyone do both,” Frazier reacted with admiration for his boss game.
“You have to give credit to Mike and all the staff around him. You have so much to prepare and you also want to study the latest games on the tablets,” continued the 66-year-old coach.
Let’s finish with a revealing statistic about Macdonald’s defensive genius. Since 2023, quarterbacks under the age of 24 have gone 0-6 against his defense including the playoffs. The challenge will therefore not be easy for Drake Maye who leads the Patriots attack well at 23 years old.
