Mike Macdonald will be leading a new era of Seattle Seahawks football. After guiding the Baltimore Ravens to one of the best defenses in the 2023 NFL season, he’s bringing a different style of football that makes him the ideal hire for the ultra-competitive NFC West.
However, the Seahawks and the 12th Man weren’t the only NFL franchises vying for his signature. There was one other team in the NFL that was trying to get his signature. Interestingly, the team was in a similar situation as the Seahawks.
Mike Macdonald got offers from the Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commanders
The former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator was reportedly targeted by the Washington Commanders to fully usher in a new era of football that is free of Dan Snyder’s handprints.
However, it also seems that he wasn’t the organization’s first choice as reported by Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio:
Per a league source, new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald also had an offer from the Commanders. It was extended after Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson removed his name from consideration for the job.
Macdonald, most recently the Ravens’ defensive coordinator, opted to go not down the road from Baltimore to D.C. but across the country to Seattle.
Both the Seahawks and the Commanders have to stand out in a division where there are two offensive juggernauts. The team Macdonald chose to lead has to face the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams twice a year. Meanwhile, Washington deals with the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys in their own division.
Macdonald was an ideal hire for both of these franchises as he’s proven himself to be an astute defensive mind. Under his tutelage, the Ravens ceded the sixth-least passing yards (3263) and second-least passing touchdowns (18). They were also effective at hawking the passing lanes as they were third-best in the league with 18 interceptions.
Their run defense left a lot to be desired, though. They were allowing more rushes than they would have liked as their 1860 opp. rushing yards placed them at 14th. Fortunately, their red-zone rush defense was impeccable as they only ceded six rushing TDs.
Such an impressive stat line made Macdonald a vital hire for both organizations. You could argue that it was a coin toss between the two. Unfortunately for the Commanders, they have to settle with Dan Quinn while the Seahawks are happy with their new head coach.
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