Mike Macdonald was back with the Seahawks on Wednesday, and following the team's walkthrough, he opened his press conference with far more significant news than usually comes out of an NFL coach's midweek press conference.
Macdonald's wife, Stephanie, gave birth to the couple's first child, a boy named Jack David Macdonald, on Tuesday night.
"Steph had our boy last night, and both are happy and healthy," Macdonald said. "That's kind of a crazy statement to say out loud, but we're really excited, really blessed obviously. Man, what a woman can do is just an unbelievable thing. What a warrior she is, she's awesome. I'll see her later on here at the hospital, but it was an incredible night, I'm just thankful for everybody at the hospital. The doctors, nurses, those people are A-plus-plus in what they do. It's pretty awesome that's what they do every day, the stuff they work through. Just really blessed, really excited, can't wait to see him again tonight."
Macdonald joked that the timing of Jack's arrival, with Stephanie going into labor on a Monday, worked out as well as he could have hoped.
"People say don't confuse hope with a plan, there was a lot of hope in that I just knew he was going to come at the right time," Macdonald said.
While Macdonald was briefly away from the team, and if he misses anything else this week while spending time with Stephanie and Jack, he was more than comfortable turning the team over to assistant head coach Leslie Frazier.
"I want to thank Les and all the rest of the people holding down the fort," Macdonald said. "I really appreciate all their attitudes, players have been great, they're excited. Good times.
Macdonald added on Frazier, "It means the world. That's one of the reasons why we wanted Les here so bad and why we're really grateful to have him. I trust him with anything and everything under the sun. This is one of those things that I definitely didn't expect to happen like that, but man, what an awesome resource and asset to our organization and football team, so we're thankful for him."
The Seahawks returned to the practice field on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center as they prepare for an upcoming Week 14 matchup at the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) and kicker Jason Myers (5) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and cornerback Riq Woolen (27) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks tackle Stone Forsythe (78) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Pharaoh Brown (86) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Miles Boykin (81) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback John Rhys Plumlee (17) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell (6) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
