The Seahawks ultimately hired a defensive coordinator to follow Pete Carroll — just not the one some expected at the outset of their search.
Seattle is hiring Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to be its head coach, according to NFL Network.
Macdonald reportedly interviewed Tuesday and returned Wednesday for a second interview.
He is receiving a six-year contract to lead the NFC West franchise, per NFL Network.
He beat out the early perceived favorite in Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, among other candidates.
This hiring leaves the Commanders — who were spurned by Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson — as the only team that not filled its vacancy among the eight initial openings.
The 36-year-old is now set to be the NFL’s youngest coach when the 2024 season open, per ESPN.
Macdonald turned himself into one of the top coaching candidates by leading Baltimore’s elite defense that led the league by allowing just 16.5 points per game en route to the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
The Ravens ranked sixth in yards allowed per game, and yielded just 20 points across its two playoff games this postseason, including Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.
Prior to leading the Ravens’ defense — he replaced former Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale — Macdonald served as Michigan’s defensive coordinator for one season.
That one-year stint at Michigan followed a seven-season stretch from 2014-20 in which he coached different position groups with Baltimore.
Seattle is now making a drastic change as it’s going from the oldest coach in the NFL in the 72-year-old Carroll to someone half his age in Macdonald.
The Seahawks previously had success with a defensive-oriented coach in Carroll, and they now hope Macdonald can help restore their defense to its “Legion of Boom” days.
The Seahawks went 9-8 and missed the playoffs last season, and last won a playoff game in 2020.