The Seattle Seahawks are set to hire Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald as their new head coach. The deal is expected to be finalized soon, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Macdonald, 36, becomes the youngest head coach in the NFL, taking that title from the New England Patriots’ Jerod Mayo, who’s 37 years old. He takes over for Pete Carroll, who was reassigned by the Seahawks after 14 years as head coach.
The Ravens defense allowed the fewest total points (280) and points per game (16.5) in the NFL this season. Baltimore also ranked fifth in the league in total pass yards (3,263) and pass yards per game (191.9) allowed.
Macdonald’s schemes should improve a Seattle defense that allowed the third-most total yards (6,313) in the NFL this season. Yet the Seahawks led the league with 60 sacks and 31 takeaways, so the new coach is starting from a good foundation.
sneaky. trade the nose and the LB when the center puts his head down to see the signal from the QB. RB sees the change, Center doesn't for obvious reasons. free hitter. pic.twitter.com/Ofm0ehqqnf
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) January 30, 2024
In addition to the Seahawks, Macdonald also interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders for their head coach openings.
Macdonald had been with the Ravens organization for nine of the past 10 years. He began in Baltimore as an intern in 2014 before moving up to a defensive assistant on John Harbaugh’s staff. After one season of coaching the team’s defensive backs, he moved to work with the linebackers for three seasons.
In 2021, he left to take the defensive coordinator role at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh. After Don Martindale was fired by the Ravens, Macdonald returned to Baltimore to oversee the defense.
Macdonald is viewed throughout the NFL as one of the league’s brightest defensive minds. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said one team that interviewed him described him as a “defensive Sean McVay.”
