The Seahawks hadn’t even spoken to Mike Macdonald before this week, but thanks to Baltimore’s upset loss Sunday and a fast-moving Seattle front office, the Seahawks got their man.
For those that expected someone like Dan Quinn to replace the retiring Pete Carroll, this is a stark contrast. It’s a full departure from the Carroll tree and a move from the oldest coach in the league to the youngest in Macdonald.
And yet, in many other ways, Macdonald feels like the perfect Carroll replacement. He’s defense first, second and third, and he’s also a similar sort of rah rah guy like Carroll who the players will love and rally behind.
Importantly, Macdonald also brings success against Kyle Shanahan and the Shanahan tree offense. Look what Baltimore did to the beautiful 49ers and Dolphins offenses late this season. The Ravens defense led the league in points allowed, sacks, and turnovers!
Seattle wants to get back to the playoffs, and the biggest immediate hurdle to do that is the 49ers juggernaut in their own division — two games a year against an opponent that has thoroughly dominated them the last couple seasons.
Macdonald gives Seattle a chance against San Francisco, and against all the other elite players callers and quarterbacks. In an NFL world going increasingly toward offense in the modern game, Macdonald has proven himself to be a true defensive weapon, the kind most teams don’t have.
It won’t come overnight. Seattle’s defense has gaping holes in talent, and Carroll’s loss will be felt. The offense will feel the loss of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron too — Macdonald’s offensive coordinator hire will be very important.
But for me, this is a great fit and a slam dunk hire, one of the best of the coaching carousel cycle.
Seattle fans should be very pleased; Baltimore fans, not so much. Macdonald is a real loss. The Ravens defense was far better than the sum of its parts. But Baltimore has confidence in its organizational health and John Harbaugh has done a great job hiring and developing assistants. Don’t be surprised if the Ravens' next DC hire us right there on the roster already in defensive backs coach Denmark Wilson.
This is a step back for the Ravens, but Baltimore will be fine.
Seattle is the big winner. And so are us fans that get to watch Macdonald coach four games a year against Shanahan and Sean McVay’s offenses. Giddy up.
