Renton, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks named Mike Macdonald the ninth head coach in franchise history, the team announced yesterday afternoon.

Macdonald joins Seattle after spending nine of the last 10 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, serving the last two years (2022-23) as defensive coordinator. He spent the 2021 season as the University of Michigan's defensive coordinator. Prior to his time with the Wolverines, Macdonald spent seven seasons (2014-20) in Baltimore, serving as a linebackers coach (2018-20), defensive backs coach (2017), defensive assistant (2015-16) and defensive coaching intern (2014).

"We're very excited to welcome Mike to our team as head coach," said Jody Allen, chair of the Seattle Seahawks. "Mike has demonstrated innovative and disciplined leadership and has a clear vision about what it takes to win. His record in Baltimore speaks for itself as does his commitment to a strong team culture, which is a hallmark of the Seahawks."

His 2023 defense became the first in NFL history to finish a season ranking no. 1 in each of the following categories: points allowed (16.5 ppg), sacks (60) and takeaways (31, tied with the N.Y. Giants). It also ranked no. 1 in the NFL in both point differential (+203) and turnover margin (+12, tied with the N.Y. Giants). Led by four AP All-Pros in S Kyle Hamilton, DT Justin Madubuike, LBs Patrick Queen and Roquan Smith, the Ravens allowed the league's sixth-fewest yards (301.4 ypg). Madubuike posted a team-high 13 sacks (most among NFL interior linemen) and S Geno Stone ranked second in the NFL with seven interceptions.

After one season at Michigan, Macdonald returned to the Ravens as their defensive coordinator in 2022, finding success as the Ravens ranked third in scoring defense (18.5 ppg), third in run defense (92.1 ypg), third in red zone defense (46.4 percent) and fourth in third-down defense (34.9).

Leading the defense in Ann Arbor (2021), Macdonald's unit posted the nation's No. 8 scoring defense (17.4 ppg), while finishing 20th in yards per game allowed (330.9) and 11th in red zone defense (45.7 percent). Macdonald also played an instrumental role in the standout performance of No. 2 overall pick DE Aidan Hutchinson, who earned first-team All-America honors and was a Heisman Trophy finalist, after producing a career-high and single-season school record 14 sacks.

From 2018-20, Macdonald led a Ravens linebacking corps that helped Baltimore produce the NFL's No. 1 overall defense (307.8 ypg) during that span, while also permitting the league's fewest points per game (18.2). LBs Matthew Judon (2019-20) and C.J. Mosley (2018) earned Pro Bowl nods under Macdonald's tutelage.

In 2020, Baltimore allowed the NFL's second-fewest points (18.9) and seventh-fewest yards (329.8 ypg). The Ravens also owned the No. 2 third-down defense (34.0 percent) and produced a league-high 25 forced fumbles.

The Ravens upheld their strong defensive tradition in 2019, allowing the NFL's third-fewest points (17.6) and fourth-fewest yards (300.6 ypg). Baltimore also ranked fifth against the run (93.4 ypg) and No. 6 in pass defense (207.2 ypg), en route to a franchise-best 14-2 record and second-straight AFC North Division title. In 2018, the Ravens produced the NFL's No. 1 defense, allowing 292.9 yards per game, while also permitting the league's second-fewest points per game (17.9).

Prior to joining Baltimore in 2014, he spent four seasons (2010-13) at the University of Georgia, first as a student assistant (2010), and three as a graduate assistant, working primarily with the linebackers, and helping mentor LB Ramik Wilson to become a first-team All-SEC selection by media and coaches after posting a conference-leading 133 total tackles, including 11 tackles for loss.

While attending Georgia, Macdonald began his coaching career at Cedar Shoals High School, coaching the linebackers and running backs under head coach Xarvia Smith, for whom he played at Centennial High School in Roswell, Ga.

He graduated summa cum laude with a finance degree from Georgia's Terry College of Business in 2010, and earned his master's degree in sports management from Georgia in 2013, while serving as safeties and defensive quality control coach for the Bulldogs.

Macdonald was a two-sport (football and baseball) athlete at Centennial High, and he and his wife, Stephanie, were married in 2021.