Mike Macdonald

For other people named Mike MacDonald, see Michael MacDonald.

Mike Macdonald
Seattle Seahawks
Position:Head coach
Personal information
Born: (1987-06-26) June 26, 1987 (age 37)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Career information
High school:Centennial (Roswell, Georgia)
College:Georgia
Career history
As a coach:
Head coaching record
Regular season:10–7 (.588)
Record at Pro Football Reference

Michael Macdonald (born June 26, 1987) is an American professional football coach who is the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from 2022 to 2023.

Macdonald attended the University of Georgia, where he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 2010. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Baltimore Ravens and at the University of Michigan.

Early life

Macdonald was born on June 26, 1987, in Boston, Massachusetts.[1] He attended Centennial High School in Roswell, Georgia. He played baseball and football at Centennial but saw limited action as a senior due to injuries.[1][2]

He next attended the University of Georgia where he studied finance at the Terry College of Business and graduated summa cum laude in 2010.[1] He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and, while still a student at Georgia, he also coached high school football at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, Georgia.[3]

Coaching career

Georgia

In May 2010, he joined Mark Richt's coaching staff as a graduate assistant with the Georgia Bulldogs football program.[1][4] He also served as a safeties and defensive quality control coach at Georgia from 2011 to 2013.[5] In 2013, while coaching at Georgia, he earned a master's degree in sport management.[1]

Baltimore Ravens

Macdonald served on John Harbaugh's coaching staff with the Baltimore Ravens for seven seasons from 2014 to 2020.[6] He was hired as an intern in 2014 and was promoted to defensive assistant in January 2015,[7] defensive backs coach in January 2017,[8] and linebackers coach in January 2018.[9]

Michigan

In January 2021, Macdonald joined Jim Harbaugh's staff at Michigan, as the defensive coordinator of the Michigan Wolverines football program.[10] In Macdonald's only season at the University of Michigan, the Wolverines posted a top 10 national defense, won the Big Ten Conference Championship, and played in the College Football Playoff.[11] The team finished with a national ranking of #3.

Baltimore Ravens (second stint)

On January 27, 2022, Macdonald was re-hired by the Baltimore Ravens as their defensive coordinator under head coach John Harbaugh, replacing Don Martindale.[12] In 2022, Macdonald led the Ravens' defense to only allowing 315 points in 17 games.[13] Averaging just under 19 points per game, the Ravens' defense was ranked the fourth best defense in the league.[14] In 2023, the Ravens' defensive unit improved under Macdonald as they only allowed 280 points in total on the season. The Ravens would advance to the AFC Championship this season and despite losing to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Ravens would hold the Chiefs to just 17 points, marking the team's sixth consecutive game where they held an opponent to 20 points or less.[15]

Seattle Seahawks

On January 31, 2024, Mike Macdonald was hired by the Seattle Seahawks as their head coach to replace Pete Carroll.[16] He beat out Ejiro Evero, Patrick Graham, Ben Johnson, Mike Kafka, Raheem Morris, Dan Quinn, Bobby Slowik, and Frank Smith for the job.[17] At the time of his hiring, Mike Macdonald was the youngest head coach in the NFL.[18]

Macdonald began his inaugural season with Seattle by leading the team to three straight victories for the first time since 2020.[19] The team followed this start by going on a three game losing streak. By the Seahawks' Week 10 bye, the team held a record of 4–5, falling to last place in the NFC West.[20] The team improved to 5–5 in Week 11 when Macdonald's Seahawks defeated the reigning NFC champions and division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, 20–17.[21] In Week 18, he led the team to a 30–25 victory against the division rival Los Angeles Rams on route to his 10th coaching win in his first season, becoming the first head coach in franchise history to reach 10 wins in his inaugural season.[22]

Head coaching record

Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
SEA 2024 10 7 0 .588 2nd in NFC West — — — —
Total 10 7 0 .588 0 0 .000

Personal life

Macdonald and his wife Stephanie have been married since 2021.[23]

On December 3, 2024, Macdonald and his wife, Stephanie, became first-time parents with the arrival of their son, Jack.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Mike Macdonald" (PDF). Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  2. ^ Meek, Austin (January 21, 2021). "Who is Michigan's Mike Macdonald? 'One of the smartest men in this world'". The Athletic. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  3. ^ Angelique S. Chengelis (January 17, 2021). "Michigan hires Ravens linebackers coach Mike Macdonald as defensive coordinator". The Detroit News.
  4. ^ McMann, Aaron (January 19, 2021). "Michigan football hires Mike Macdonald as next defensive coordinator". Mlive.com. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  5. ^ Orion Sang (January 17, 2021). "Michigan football hires Mike Macdonald as defensive coordinator". Detroit Free Press.
  6. ^ Ryan Mink (January 17, 2021). "Mike Macdonald Officially Hired By Michigan as Defensive Coordinator". Baltimore Ravens.
  7. ^ "Coaching staff altered". The Baltimore Sun. January 25, 2015. p. D5 – via Newspapers.com.("The Ravens also announced the promotion of Mike Macdonald, 27, into a defensive assistant role. Macdonald was a coaching assistant last season, working primarily with the secondary. Before joining the Ravens, he was a safeties and defensive quality-control coach at Georgia.")
  8. ^ Jeff Zrebiec (January 27, 2015). "Harbaugh stays in house, makes promotions". The Baltimore Sun. p. D4 – via Newspapers.com. ("Mike Macdonald, a defensive assistant last season, was promoted to work with Hewitt as the assistant defensive backs coach.")
  9. ^ "Ravens go with continuity, promote Martindale". The Baltimore Sun. January 10, 2018. p. D4 – via Newspapers.com.("Mike Macdonald, a 30-year-old who was a defensive assistant in 2015 and 2016 and defensive backs coach this past season, will be the new linebackers coach.")
  10. ^ "Mike Macdonald Named Michigan's Defensive Coordinator". University of Michigan. January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  11. ^ Suss, Nick (January 13, 2024). "Titans conduct head coaching interview with Mike Macdonald, Antonio Pierce". Nashville Tennessean. Michigan improved from 95th in scoring defense in 2020 to eighth in 2021, with Macdonald's defense helping lead the Wolverines to a Big Ten title and College Football Playoff berth.
  12. ^ Brown, Clifton (January 27, 2022). "Ravens Name Mike Macdonald Defensive Coordinator". Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  13. ^ "Baltimore Ravens Points Allowed 2022". StatMuse. November 17, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  14. ^ "2022 NFL Leaders & Stats". FOX Sports. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "2023 Baltimore Ravens Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. September 10, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  16. ^ Boyle, John (January 31, 2024). "Mike Macdonald Named Head Coach Of The Seattle Seahawks". Seahawks.com. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  17. ^ "NFL coaching, GM tracker: Latest news, interviews, developments in 2024 hiring cycle". NFL.com. January 26, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  18. ^ Condotta, Bob (January 31, 2024). "Seahawks hire Mike Macdonald as coach to replace Pete Carroll". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  19. ^ "All Seattle Seahawks Seasons Which Started 3-0". Champs or Chumps. November 14, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  20. ^ "Seattle Seahawks 2024 Regular Season NFL Schedule". ESPN. November 18, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  21. ^ Thanawalla, Ali; Martin, Angelina; Maiocco, Matt; Chan, Jennifer Lee; Rodriguez, Tristi (November 17, 2024). "49ers vs. Seahawks as it happened: Reaction, analysis of SF's 20-17 loss". NBC Sports Bay Area & California. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  22. ^ Musgrove, Kole (January 5, 2025). "Seahawks defeat Rams 30-25, end the season on a high note". Seahawks Wire. USA Today. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  23. ^ "Mike Macdonald bio". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  24. ^ "Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald and wife Stephanie have first child". seattletimes.com.