What Mike Macdonald has accomplished with the Seattle Seahawks over the past two seasons stands out even by modern NFL standards.
After inheriting a middling 9-8 roster, Macdonald guided Seattle to five additional wins across two seasons and into the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign.
The Seahawks put on a celebration that left everyone stunned
In a league defined by rapid turnover and narrow margins, that level of progress speaks to more than scheme alone.
Roster construction played a major role in the resurgence, with general manager John Schneider receiving significant credit for reshaping the foundation.
On offense, the emergence of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Zach Charbonnet added explosiveness and balance, while the defense routinely carried the team through stretches where quarterback Sam Darnold was not operating at his peak.
Yet within the organization, those pieces are viewed as complementary to a deeper transformation that began long before kickoff.
Culture translating to dominance
Macdonald revealed that the Seahawks had nearly perfect attendance during their voluntary offseason program, a rarity in today’s NFL.
He believes that early buy-in is the single biggest reason the team is still playing meaningful football deep into January.
“We would not be here if the guys didn’t buy in the way they did and work the way they did in the offseason,” Macdonald said, per Seahawks.com reporter Ari Horton.
“And it’s easier said than done. You can ask till you’re blue in the face for them to come to our offseason program.
“But if you haven’t built something out… and our coaches create an environment where they feel like they can come and get great work in and spend time with their teammates and actually improve as a player, if you’re not doing those things to back it up guys aren’t going to want to come.”
That commitment has translated directly to performance. Seattle‘s 41-6 dismantling of the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round was the clearest representation of Macdonald‘s philosophy.
The victory was not driven by individual heroics but by discipline, communication, and collective execution across all three phases.
According to Macdonald, the cohesion on display stems from trust – players trusting the system, the staff, and one another. That trust was cultivated through consistency and accountability long before the postseason arrived.
“Really, it’s the players taking a leap of faith, trusting us and trusting what we’ve been able to bring to the table for them, and our coaches and staff creating an awesome environment where they feel like they can get better,” Macdonald added.
“If we didn’t do it, we would not be here right now. I’m convinced of that.”
The ultimate test awaits in NFC Championship game
Now, the Seahawks face another familiar test against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game. The teams split their regular-season meetings, with a combined margin of just three points.
Sunday’s matchup at Lumen Field is scheduled for 18:30 ET / 15:30 PT, with the winner advancing to face either the Denver Broncos or the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
Regardless of the outcome, Macdonald‘s impact is already evident and, unlike several coaches who were fired in the offseason, he will be staying barring a major incident.
By prioritizing culture, fostering genuine buy-in, and aligning personnel with purpose, the Seahawks have re-established themselves as a standard-bearing franchise for seasons to come.
