MOBILE, Ala.—A year ago, on the Wednesday following the conference championship games, Mike Macdonald was named the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, kicking off a whirlwind of an offseason as he and John Schneider put together an entire coaching staff while also trying to prepare for an upcoming draft.
This year, on the Wednesday following the conference championship games, Macdonald was at Hancock Whitney Stadium along with Schneider and the team's player personnel department watching practices for this weekend's Senior Bowl, a week-long showcase for some of the upcoming draft's top prospects.
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the direction the Seahawks are headed in under Macdonald and Schneider's leadership, not the least of which was the growth shown by the team last season, finishing 6-2, after losing five of six heading into their bye week to finish with a 10-7 record. And one big reason to feel good about what the Seahawks can do in their second season under Macdonald was evident as he and Schneider stood together on the field watching Senior Bowl practice.
Unlike last year when Macdonald was working under a tight time crunch, building a staff and a plan for his first season as a head coach, he has a full offseason to prepare for 2025 this time around. Obviously, Macdonald plans to be busy far later into January and even February in future seasons, but for now Macdonald hopes to make the most of the time this offseason provides as he dives into a part of the offseason that he mostly had to miss last year.
"I want to be involved in the process of deciding who's going to be on our team," Macdonald said from a suite between practices Wednesday. "Who we bring in is really important in building the culture that we want and the team that we want, and you want to take advantage of every opportunity you have to make the best decisions for us. I just want to be a part of it."
Schneider and the team's scouts do the heavy lifting when it comes to evaluating draft prospects, and Macdonald is impressed with the job they do, but he also likes the idea of getting a feel for players in an environment like the Senior Bowl to learn things that don't show up on the tape he could be studying back at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
"That's the driving force of why we're down here," Macdonald said. "You talk about chasing edges. That little margin of, yeah, I can watch it on tape, but how do I feel guys in person? It's different. It's like being at practice and feeling players at practice vs. watching them execute on tape. It's a similar relationship.
"Just watching one on ones, seeing how they handle it if they lose a rep, or when they win a rep, and watching them talk to teammates. There's just little things you can pick up here and there. You're trying to just feel them. Just feel who they are without them always being on their best behavior when they're in a meeting or something. Just trying to get that extra angle of understanding what the type of player they are and what type of person they are. It's been cool, it's been a fun experience."
Macdonald's attention was somewhat divided at the Senior Bowl because he was frequently on the phone as he and new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak worked on changes to the offensive coaching staff, but it was still a valuable process—one he couldn't take part in last year—that Macdonald was eager to be a part of as he looks to help the Seahawks take a leap in 2025.
"I love this part of the season, because you're building your team," he said. "Off the field, with our coaching staff, having a new offensive coordinator, just building all the systems out, building out how we want to attack the offseason, how we want to get our team to the next level, this is when you do it. So you've got to be really aggressive in your approach, and it's exciting. You maybe think outside the box on certain things, and try to build the best off-the-field team we can have, then obviously the personnel side is huge. Those are the guys that drive our team, and hopefully we're finding the next 10, 15-year vet that's going to be a Seahawk for life. That's exciting."
Go behind the scenes with team photographer Rod Mar as he shares the best moments from the Seattle Seahawks' 2024 season.
Seahawks running back Kobe Lewis rides the team bus from the hotel to SoFi Stadium for the first preseason game of the year.
Players gather together in the locker room before the game.
In the Seahawks locker room after the game, head coach Mike Macdonald kneels in prayer with his team, including Riq Woolen, left.
Seahawks quarterbacks Geno Smtih and Sam Howell make their way from the locker room to the field.
In the visitors locker room, Seattle's Leonard Williams gathered his thoughts.
Seahawks safety Julian Love was awarded a game ball for his key blocked field goal in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks specialists, Jason Myers, Michael Dickson and Chris Stoll head to the field.
Head coach Mike Macdonald leaves the the locker room and heads to the field.
Jarran Reed leads the defensive line down the long tunnel from the visitors locker room to the field.
Prior to leaving the locker room, receiver Jake Bobo spends a quiet moment.
Running back Kenneth Walker III wears gloves sporting his jersey number.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell takes warmup throws in the late afternoon sun at Lumen Field.
Head referee Craig Wrolstad meets captains for both teams for the coin toss at midfield.
At halftime, assistant head coach Leslie Frazier addressed members of the Seahawks defense.
On travel day, Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon heads to the team buses for the trip to Atlanta.
Seahawks safety K'Von Wallace tapes his fingers in the locker room before the game.
Seahawks president of football operations/general manager John Schneider excitedly greets quarterback Geno Smith in the locker room after the game.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III, left, brings the team up after receiving a game ball from head coach Mike Macdonald in the locker room after the game.
Seattle's Uchenna Nwosu arrives at the stadium.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon makes his way to the field for pregame warmups.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith talks to the team in the locker room before kickoff.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith is fired up during pregame introductions
After the game, head coach Mike Macdonald addressed his team in the locker room.
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the locker room before kickoff.
Always loyal 12s salute the Seahawks as the team buses depart the Virginia Mason Athletic Center for the airport on Saturday.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett sported these custom cleats during pregame, in honor of the baby that he and his wife Lauren are expecting.
The Seahawks join hands in a circle before leaving the locker room.
After the game, Leonard Williams celebrates in the locker room sporting the now-famous "WIN" glasses.
Seahawks receiver Cody White leaps high for a pass during warmups.
Seahawks Leonard Williams and Kenny McIntosh share a laugh in the locker room during pregame.
Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams tapes his fingers in an area of the locker room before the game.
Seahawks defensive lineman Mike Morris sits in the locker room before the team took field.
At halftime, head coach Mike Macdonald talks to the defense in the locker room.
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi walks through the narrow passage way from the visitor's locker room to the field.
Seahawks running backs led by Zach Charbonnet, huddle before taking the field for pregame warmups.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith strikes a pose in the locker room before the game.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett was one of the last to leave the locker room before the game.
Receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf shake hands in the locker room after the game.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is celebrated by his team after being awarded a game ball.
