Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald joins NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche at the NFL Annual League Meeting to discus winning Super Bowl LX.
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The next two Hard Knocks will, for training camp at least, will be the two participants in the Super Bowl.
The next two Hard Knocks will, for training camp at least, will be the two participants in the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks this summer, yes, on HBO Max, the Patriots next year.
The Seahawks this summer, yes, on HBO Max, the Patriots next year.
But yeah, you’re gonna see how champions never rest and get ready for a repeat.
But yeah, you’re gonna see how champions never rest and get ready for a repeat.
Our guy, Steve Wyche, asked Mike McDonald, the head coach of the Seahawks, a little bit about that.
Our guy, Steve Wyche, asked Mike McDonald, the head coach of the Seahawks, a little bit about that.
All right, coach.
All right, coach.
You know, first off, you still look like you’re basking in the, in the glow of the championship, but look, one thing Super Bowl coaches tend to say is the shorter off-season.
You know, first off, you still look like you’re basking in the, in the glow of the championship, but look, one thing Super Bowl coaches tend to say is the shorter off-season.
Yeah.
Yeah.
What about that adjustment for you?
What about that adjustment for you?
It’s real.
It’s real.
It’s real.
It’s real.
I mean, here, here we are at league meetings, and, our players are showing up i- in a couple weeks, so, everything’s expedited, you know, like getting the staff back together.
I mean, here, here we are at league meetings, and, our players are showing up i- in a couple weeks, so, everything’s expedited, you know, like getting the staff back together.
You’re also trying to give the guys a break to figure out to, kind of get the mind, body, and spirit fresh to, to turn it around and, But the, there’s no we- no rest for the weary, so off we go, and, But it’s exciting.
You’re also trying to give the guys a break to figure out to, kind of get the mind, body, and spirit fresh to, to turn it around and, But the, there’s no we- no rest for the weary, so off we go, and, But it’s exciting.
You know, I, I think once you get back in the cadence of the players being back in the building- Mm-hmm and start to back to come around, you get refreshed, rejuvenated, and, it gets exciting again.
You know, I, I think once you get back in the cadence of the players being back in the building- Mm-hmm and start to back to come around, you get refreshed, rejuvenated, and, it gets exciting again.
How do you manage the other aspect about it that a lot of people don’t talk about?
How do you manage the other aspect about it that a lot of people don’t talk about?
You lose coaches off your staff, right?
You lose coaches off your staff, right?
You lose Clint, you gotta go and hire new coaches.
You lose Clint, you gotta go and hire new coaches.
Yeah.
Yeah.
How much does that condense the process as well as identifying the right people you want in your building?
How much does that condense the process as well as identifying the right people you want in your building?
Well, it’s, it’s easier said than done.
Well, it’s, it’s easier said than done.
We, we, and we did this by get- we were one of the last staffs hired in 2024.
We, we, and we did this by get- we were one of the last staffs hired in 2024.
True.
True.
And now we were kind of at the end of the, at the end of the coaching, you know, hiring cycle this past season, or maybe after the ’23 season when we first got there.
And now we were kind of at the end of the, at the end of the coaching, you know, hiring cycle this past season, or maybe after the ’23 season when we first got there.
so, you know, there’s a lot of, a lot of staffs are set by that time.
so, you know, there’s a lot of, a lot of staffs are set by that time.
So, it’s a challenge, you know, and you have to move quickly, but you also wanna be able to do it the right way and find the right people.
So, it’s a challenge, you know, and you have to move quickly, but you also wanna be able to do it the right way and find the right people.
really excited about the people that we found.
really excited about the people that we found.
You know, I f- I felt like, we have a really dynamic, great staff and have an opportunity to, to, create another great team again, and, and we’ve been working on that.
You know, I f- I felt like, we have a really dynamic, great staff and have an opportunity to, to, create another great team again, and, and we’ve been working on that.
You know, since the guys have been back in the building, you know, it’s, it’s, it’s important to kind of go back through the whole process about what we believe in, you know, how we, how we wanna do things as Seahawks, and it’s good for the old staff, to hear those things again and, and start to connect the guys before, the players show up.
You know, since the guys have been back in the building, you know, it’s, it’s, it’s important to kind of go back through the whole process about what we believe in, you know, how we, how we wanna do things as Seahawks, and it’s good for the old staff, to hear those things again and, and start to connect the guys before, the players show up.
So you bring in Brian Flores, your OC.
So you bring in Brian Flores, your OC.
Yeah.
Yeah.
comes from the Niners, so the offensive schematics are, are somewhat similar to what Clint was running.
comes from the Niners, so the offensive schematics are, are somewhat similar to what Clint was running.
How important though is to find the right guy to identify with Sam, to keep he, to keep Sam Darnold ascending?
How important though is to find the right guy to identify with Sam, to keep he, to keep Sam Darnold ascending?
Well, it’s incredibly important.
Well, it’s incredibly important.
It’s gonna be a challenge for us, from me being on the defensive side of the ball.
It’s gonna be a challenge for us, from me being on the defensive side of the ball.
Right.
Right.
And we’re gonna, you know, if we keep playing the right way, we’re gonna have turnover on, on our offensive staff and, and, hopefully that’s by design.
And we’re gonna, you know, if we keep playing the right way, we’re gonna have turnover on, on our offensive staff and, and, hopefully that’s by design.
You know, that’s, those are good problems to have.
You know, that’s, those are good problems to have.
But we do have a lot of carryover on our offensive staff.
But we do have a lot of carryover on our offensive staff.
Jake Peets is gonna be- Right working really tight with Sam, and as he did last year.
Jake Peets is gonna be- Right working really tight with Sam, and as he did last year.
Tyson Prince is now our quarterback coach.
Tyson Prince is now our quarterback coach.
he was in the quarterback room last year.
he was in the quarterback room last year.
He’s a stud.
He’s a stud.
He’s a great young coach.
He’s a great young coach.
And, Brian has a great feel as well.
And, Brian has a great feel as well.
So y- I think you’re just gonna look at, like, the next evolution of the Seahawks offense.
So y- I think you’re just gonna look at, like, the next evolution of the Seahawks offense.
It’s still gonna be built around Sam, things he does well.
It’s still gonna be built around Sam, things he does well.
So, we do have a lot of carryover.
So, we do have a lot of carryover.
I love you say, “It’s gonna be built around Sam.”
I love you say, “It’s gonna be built around Sam.”
Do you th- do you think now that he’s quieted the critics, that the cynicism’s gonna die down or you think it’s still gonna be there about Sam?
Do you th- do you think now that he’s quieted the critics, that the cynicism’s gonna die down or you think it’s still gonna be there about Sam?
There’s always gonna be something, right?
There’s always gonna be something, right?
I mean, people are gonna try to find something.
I mean, people are gonna try to find something.
If we, if we lose a game, it’s gonna be a problem.
If we, if we lose a game, it’s gonna be a problem.
You know, if we go to the playoffs again, it’s gonna be, “Can they do it again?”
You know, if we go to the playoffs again, it’s gonna be, “Can they do it again?”
It’s always, it’s all questions rather than reinforcement, but, it’s the life we live and, keeps people interested, so it’s all good.
It’s always, it’s all questions rather than reinforcement, but, it’s the life we live and, keeps people interested, so it’s all good.
We’re still gonna focus on what we do and how we do it.
We’re still gonna focus on what we do and how we do it.
Jackson Smith-Njigba, the importance of getting the deal, the extension done when you did.
Jackson Smith-Njigba, the importance of getting the deal, the extension done when you did.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, I know we can say, “Hey, salary cap,” I’ll let you manage all that.
I mean, I know we can say, “Hey, salary cap,” I’ll let you manage all that.
But to get such a good player settled, what do you think that does not only for him but for the rest of your locker room saying, “Hey, we’re gonna take care of our core guys”?
But to get such a good player settled, what do you think that does not only for him but for the rest of your locker room saying, “Hey, we’re gonna take care of our core guys”?
I d- I love the way that, you know, our, our side, really both sides handled business.
I d- I love the way that, you know, our, our side, really both sides handled business.
You know, Joey Lane operating the way he does, J- John working the way he does, Jackson and his people, you know, having the communication, obviously handling it behind closed doors and, and kinda keeping it in the family w- with the, with the business side and stuff.
You know, Joey Lane operating the way he does, J- John working the way he does, Jackson and his people, you know, having the communication, obviously handling it behind closed doors and, and kinda keeping it in the family w- with the, with the business side and stuff.
So, excited that it’s that so quick.
So, excited that it’s that so quick.
You know, I think to be able to do that on time and, and in front of, and get out in front before things, you know, start becoming, like, a topic of conversation just shows you, you know, how we operate here in, in Seattle and, obviously just what we think about Jax as a person, as a player, competitor, foundational piece of our, of our franchise.
You know, I think to be able to do that on time and, and in front of, and get out in front before things, you know, start becoming, like, a topic of conversation just shows you, you know, how we operate here in, in Seattle and, obviously just what we think about Jax as a person, as a player, competitor, foundational piece of our, of our franchise.
So, really excited to have him for, for the long haul.
So, really excited to have him for, for the long haul.