The Seattle Seahawks have made a major coaching change, hiring Mike Macdonald as their new head coach. At just 36 years old, Macdonald will be the youngest head coach in the NFL. He has been the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens for the past two seasons and has been highly regarded around the league.
Macdonald takes over for Pete Carroll, who had been the Seahawks’ head coach for 14 seasons. Carroll had a successful tenure, with a regular-season record of 137-89-1 and a Super Bowl victory. However, the team decided to make a surprising move and transition Carroll into an advisory role.
The Seahawks had a disappointing season in 2023, missing the playoffs with a 9-8 record. Their defense, once considered one of the best in the league, has struggled in recent years, ranking 25th in points allowed. The offense also took a step back, finishing 17th in scoring.
One of Macdonald’s first tasks will be finding a new offensive coordinator. Veteran quarterback Geno Smith had a regression in 2023, throwing for only 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Seahawks have made the playoffs four times since 2018 but have only won one postseason game.
With Macdonald now off the market, the Washington Commanders are the only team left without a head coach. Macdonald was a top candidate for Washington, but they will have to look elsewhere. Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, also turned down the opportunity to be Washington’s head coach.
