Seahawks' Mike Macdonald Opens Up About Super Bowl Triumph on Late-Night TV
In a recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, host Jimmy Kimmel welcomed Super Bowl LX-winning head coach Mike Macdonald of the Seattle Seahawks. Kimmel highlighted Macdonald's historic achievement, noting he is "the third youngest coach to win a Super Bowl in NFL history" and "the second youngest Super Bowl-winning coach of all time, after Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs."
A Surreal Moment on the Gridiron
Kimmel inquired about an out-of-body experience Macdonald reportedly had after defeating the New England Patriots on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Macdonald admitted, "Well, I have a bad history with memes now, between that and 'We Did Not Care.'" He described the chaotic final moments: "It all happened really fast. We were trying to tackle the guy in bounds so the game would end. Then the game's over, and one of our coaches is like, 'Hey! You just won the Super Bowl.' That was pretty cool, so now I have to go shake hands."
Macdonald recalled the celebratory aftermath: "Then the Gatorade came, which was awesome. And then there’s cameras everywhere, so I’m like awkward, I’m not trying to look at the cameras, I don’t know what to do. So there’s fireworks going, my head goes up, I was looking at the fireworks."
Coaching Style and Defensive Responsibilities
Kimmel observed that Macdonald seemed level-headed and asked if football coaches are supposed to be "a little nuts, a little crazy." Macdonald shyly replied, "I can get a little crazy," but confirmed he does not scream at players. The host then noted Macdonald's unique dual role, calling all defensive plays while serving as head coach—a rarity in the NFL.
The 38-year-old former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator explained, "When I grew up, when I started coaching, I just wanted to be a defensive coordinator. I didn’t really have aspirations to be a head coach." With current Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde on staff, Kimmel humorously suggested Macdonald should receive a separate salary for his defensive duties. Macdonald laughed, "I don’t know, maybe [general manager] John [Schneider] and [owner] Jody [Allen] are listening... I don’t know."
Quarterback Acquisition and Future Plans
Kimmel praised Macdonald's decision to acquire quarterback Sam Darnold from the Minnesota Vikings, calling it a "genius" move. Macdonald modestly credited general manager John Schneider, saying, "It wasn’t all my decision. John Schneider had a lot to do with it. Yeah, we look pretty smart right now." When asked if rotating quarterbacks annually makes sense, Macdonald firmly stated, "We flew down here with Sam [Darnold]. So, I’m going to say no."
Looking ahead, Macdonald acknowledged challenges with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak departing for the Las Vegas Raiders. Kimmel joked that Macdonald could handle offensive play-calling too, but Macdonald chuckled, "Unfortunately, we got to hire somebody new and get moving, but we’ve got a parade to celebrate on Wednesday first."
Throughout the interview, Macdonald's humility and focus on team effort shone through, reflecting the Seahawks' collaborative approach that led to their Super Bowl LX victory.
