Mike Macdonald Explained

Mike Macdonald
Current Team:Seattle Seahawks
Position:Head coach
Birth Date:June 26, 1987
Birth Place:Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
High School:Centennial (Roswell, Georgia)
College:Georgia
Pastcoaching:
  • Cedar Shoals HS (GA) (2008–2009)
    Linebackers coach & running backs coach
  • Georgia (2010)
    Graduate assistant
  • Georgia (2011–2013)
    Defensive quality control assistant
  • Baltimore Ravens
    Coaching intern
  • Baltimore Ravens (–)
    Defensive assistant
  • Baltimore Ravens
    Defensive backs coach
  • Baltimore Ravens (–)
    Linebackers coach
  • Michigan (2021)
    Defensive coordinator
  • Baltimore Ravens (–)
    Defensive coordinator
  • Seattle Seahawks (–present)
    Head coach
Pfrcoach:MacdMi0

Michael Macdonald (born June 26, 1987) is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from 2022 to 2023.

Macdonald attended the University of Georgia, where he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 2010. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Baltimore Ravens and at the University of Michigan.

Early life

Macdonald was born on June 26, 1987, in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Centennial High School in Roswell, Georgia. He played baseball and football at Centennial but saw limited action as a senior due to injuries.[1]

He next attended the University of Georgia where he studied finance at the Terry College of Business and graduated summa cum laude in 2010. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and, while still a student at Georgia, he also coached high school football at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, Georgia.[2]

Coaching career

Georgia

In May 2010, he joined Mark Richt's coaching staff as a graduate assistant with the Georgia Bulldogs football program.[3] He also served as a safeties and defensive quality control coach at Georgia from 2011 to 2013.[4] In 2013, while coaching at Georgia, he earned a master's degree in sport management.[5]

Baltimore Ravens

Macdonald served on John Harbaugh's coaching staff with the Baltimore Ravens for seven seasons from 2014 to 2020.[6] He was hired as an intern in 2014 and was promoted to defensive assistant in January 2015,[7] defensive backs coach in January 2017,[8] and linebackers coach in January 2018.[9]

Michigan

In January 2021, Macdonald joined Jim Harbaugh's staff at Michigan, as the defensive coordinator of the Michigan Wolverines football program.[10] In Macdonald's only season at the University of Michigan, the Wolverines posted a top 10 national defense, won the Big Ten Conference Championship, and played in the College Football Playoff.[11] The team finished with a national ranking of #3.

Baltimore Ravens (second stint)

On January 27, 2022, Macdonald was re-hired by the Baltimore Ravens as their defensive coordinator under head coach John Harbaugh, replacing Don Martindale.[12]

Seattle Seahawks

On January 31, 2024, Macdonald was hired by the Seattle Seahawks as their head coach to replace Pete Carroll.[13] At the time of his hiring, Macdonald is the youngest head coach in the NFL.[14]

Head coaching record

Team Year Regular season Postseason
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWon Lost Win % Result
SEA2024TBD TBD TBD TBD
Total 0 0 0 0 0

Personal life

Macdonald and his wife have been married since 2021.[15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Meek . Austin . January 21, 2021 . Who is Michigan's Mike Macdonald? 'One of the smartest men in this world' . The Athletic . November 17, 2023.
  2. News: Michigan hires Ravens linebackers coach Mike Macdonald as defensive coordinator. Angelique S. Chengelis. The Detroit News. January 17, 2021.
  3. News: McMann . Aaron . January 19, 2021 . Michigan football hires Mike Macdonald as next defensive coordinator . Mlive.com . November 17, 2023.
  4. News: Michigan football hires Mike Macdonald as defensive coordinator. Orion Sang. Detroit Free Press. January 17, 2021.
  5. Web site: Mike McDonald. Baltimore Ravens. January 23, 2021.
  6. Web site: Mike Macdonald Officially Hired By Michigan as Defensive Coordinator. Baltimore Ravens. Ryan Mink. January 17, 2021.
  7. News: Coaching staff altered. The Baltimore Sun. January 25, 2015. D5. Newspapers.com. ("The Ravens also announced the promotion of Mike Macdonald, 27, into a defensive assistant role. Macdonald was a coaching assistant last season, working primarily with the secondary. Before joining the Ravens, he was a safeties and defensive quality-control coach at Georgia.")
  8. News: Harbaugh stays in house, makes promotions. The Baltimore Sun. Jeff Zrebiec. January 27, 2015. D4. Newspapers.com. ("Mike Macdonald, a defensive assistant last season, was promoted to work with Hewitt as the assistant defensive backs coach.")
  9. News: Ravens go with continuity, promote Martindale. The Baltimore Sun. January 10, 2018. D4. Newspapers.com. ("Mike Macdonald, a 30-year-old who was a defensive assistant in 2015 and 2016 and defensive backs coach this past season, will be the new linebackers coach.")
  10. Web site: Mike Macdonald Named Michigan's Defensive Coordinator. University of Michigan. January 17, 2021. January 31, 2024.
  11. Web site: Titans conduct head coaching interview with Mike Macdonald, Antonio Pierce. Nashville Tennessean. January 13, 2024. Nick. Suss. Michigan improved from 95th in scoring defense in 2020 to eighth in 2021, with Macdonald's defense helping lead the Wolverines to a Big Ten title and College Football Playoff berth..
  12. Web site: Clifton. Brown. Ravens Name Mike Macdonald Defensive Coordinator. Baltimore Ravens. January 27, 2022. January 27, 2022.
  13. Web site: Mike Macdonald Named Head Coach Of The Seattle Seahawks. Seahawks.com. January 31, 2024. March 16, 2024. John. Boyle.
  14. News: Condotta . Bob . January 31, 2024 . Seahawks hire Mike Macdonald as coach to replace Pete Carroll . . February 1, 2024.
  15. Web site: Mike Macdonald bio . BaltimoreRavens.com.