Mike Macdonald says the Seattle Seahawks’ defensive dominance comes from focusing on the basics: tackling correctly, finishing every play, and making each defensive assignment count on the field.
The head coach explained at a pre-Super Bowl LX press conference that every defensive snap begins with sound tackling technique, and the team’s discipline in fundamentals is the reason Seattle has been so consistent all season long.
“We drill the fundamentals of tackling and finishing every day,” Macdonald said. “We do it as a team, we do it in our warmup before games. It’s part of our DNA and the guys take a lot of pride in it.”
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He credited outside linebackers coach Chris Partridge for instilling the EAT system-effort, angle, and tackle-ensuring every defender focuses on fundamentals while maintaining discipline across every defensive scheme.
Beyond tackling fundamentals, the Seahawks defense ranks among the NFL’s greatest units ever, according to DVOA, a metric measuring efficiency compared to league average, adjusting for opponent quality, down, distance, and game context.
Aaron Schatz, DVOA creator and chief analytics officer at FTN Fantasy, listed this year’s Seattle defense sixth all-time when including playoffs, an impressive feat considering the competition from legendary units over the past 40-plus seasons.
Only historically dominant defenses like the Washington Commanders (1991-92), Chicago Bears (1985-86), New England Patriots (2007-08), San Francisco 49ers (1989-90), and Green Bay Packers (1996-97) rank higher, showing Seattle’s elite company.
Interestingly, Macdonald led the 2023-24 Baltimore Ravens defense to a top-seven DVOA finish, reinforcing his reputation as an architect of dominant units, and now Seattle’s defense carries that same blueprint to the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks still face one final test: slowing the explosive New England Patriots offense, led by Drake Maye and coordinator Josh McDaniels, on Super Bowl Sunday. A strong performance could elevate this defense into the top five of all time.
How the Seahawks and Patriots got here
The Patriots and Seahawks meet on February 8 in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, with both teams chasing NFL supremacy and a chance to make history globally.
New England advanced past the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship despite tough conditions late, reaching its first Super Bowl since beating the Los Angeles Rams after the 2018 season, while Seattle claimed the NFC crown over the Rams.
The Patriots transformed from a 4-13 2024 record to 14-3 in 2025 under first-year coach Mike Vrabel, guided by second-year QB Drake Maye, while the Seahawks reach their first Super Bowl since losing to New England in the 2014 season.
Seattle will pursue a second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history while New England aims for a seventh title to break its tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers, giving the matchup historic significance beyond the game itself.
Vrabel, a three-time Super Bowl champion as a linebacker with New England, could become the first person in NFL history to win a Lombardi Trophy with the same team as both player and head coach, cementing a rare historical achievement.
