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Seahawks hire Ravens DC Mike Macdonald as new head coach

liz roscher
Staff writer
·2 min read
298

The Seattle Seahawks are hiring a new head coach who is more than 30 years younger than their previous head coach.

The Seahawks announced Wednesday they are hiring 36-year-old Mike Macdonald, the Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator, as their new head coach.

Macdonald is replacing 72-year-old Pete Carroll, the Seahawks' longtime head coach who was demoted to "advisor" in mid-January after nearly 15 years in the role. At 36, Macdonald has been a quick riser within the coaching world. He joined Georgia's staff in 2011 after being named senior assistant and then defensive graduate assistant, focusing on inside linebackers.

He joined the Ravens in 2014 as a coaching intern, spending seven seasons working his way up as defensive assistant, defensive backs coach and linebackers coach. Then Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh poached Macdonald from his brother, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, hiring him to be Michigan's defensive coordinator in 2021. He rejoined the Ravens as defensive coordinator in 2022.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 31: Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald of the Baltimore Ravens looks on during the first half of the game against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, 36, will reportedly be hired as the Seahawks' new head coach. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)

Over two seasons as DC, Macdonald has been very successful. In 2023, the Ravens were No. 1 in points allowed, sacks and takeaways.

"We're going to have a lot of fun, we're going to work our tails off, and it's going to be an incredible ride," Macdonald said, via the Seahawks' website. "We're going to be here for a long time, and we're going to win a lot of football games."

Taking the reins in this hire was general manager John Schneider, who assumed full control of players and coaches following Carroll's role shift. Before, Schneider did not have any control over coaching hires. This is the first time he's had final say on a Seahawks coaching hire.