How Mike Macdonald is different from NFL’s other head coach hires

When a new head coach is hired, it’s common practice that they will bring in assistants and players they’re familiar with from their previous job(s). In the case of Seattle Seahawks first-year coach Mike Macdonald, that’s only marginally been true.

None of Macdonald’s new Seahawks assistants came from the otherwise heavily raided 2023 Baltimore Ravens coaching staff, and only two even have previous Michigan or Ravens ties to begin with. Assistant head coach Leslie Frazier was with Baltimore for just one season in 2016, while special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh held the same job in Macdonald’s one year at Michigan in 2021. That’s where the prior working relationship ends.

(Edit: As noted in the comments by Hawk2Hawk, Josh Bynes is assistant linebackers coach, and Macdonald did coach Bynes as a player)

From a roster perspective, the Seahawks didn’t sign any Ravens free agents. Patrick Queen was heavily linked to Seattle but went to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Geno Stone was a potential option as the Seahawks as they rebuilt their safety depth, only for Stone to sign with the Cincinnati Bengals. Jadeveon Clowney reunion? Nope. He went to the Carolina Panthers. The only unsigned Ravens free agents of note are cornerback Daryl Worley and running back Dalvin Cook.

Exempting in-house promotions like Antonio Pierce (Las Vegas Raiders) and Jerod Mayo (New England Patriots), the other new head coach hires have all added assistants and/or players they’ve worked with in other stops.

Raheem Morris (Atlanta Falcons)

Coaching staff: Zac Robinson (offensive coordinator), Jimmy Lake (defensive coordinator)

Players: N/A

Brian Callahan (Tennessee Titans)

Coaching staff: Nick Holz (offensive coordinator), Bo Hardegree (quarterbacks), Colt Anderson (special teams coordinator), Tyke Tolbert (receivers)

(Note: Brian’s dad Bill Callahan was hired as offensive line coach, but this is the first time he’s ever worked alongside his son)

Players: WR Tyler Boyd, CB Chidobe Awuzie

Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders)

Coaching staff: Ken Norton Jr (linebackers coach), Joe Whitt Jr (defensive coordinator), John Glenn (assistant special teams)

Players: DL Dorance Armstrong, LB Bobby Wagner, OLB Dante Fowler Jr, OL Tyler Biadasz

Dave Canales (Carolina Panthers)

Coaching staff: Harold Goodwin (run game coordinator), Brad Idzik (offensive coordinator), Nate Carroll (passing game coordinator), Pat McPherson (tight ends), Tracy Smith (special teams coordinator), Keli’i Kekuewa (assistant offensive line)

Players: RB Rashaad Penny, G Damien Lewis, WR David Moore, EDGE Jadeveon Clowney

Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers)

Coaching staff: Greg Roman (offensive coordinator), Jesse Minter (defensive coordinator), Will Tukuafu (assistant defensive line), NaVorro Bowman (linebackers)

Players: LB Junior Colson, WR Cornelius Johnson, OL Karsen Barnhart (all rookies from Michigan)

It should be noted that Raheem Morris didn’t add any former Los Angeles Rams players, but he was Falcons interim coach in 2020 and there are still several key players from that roster on the 2024 squad. Otherwise, Macdonald is the only external head coach hire who didn’t bring in staff or players from his 2023 team. The only current Seahawks player who was coached by Macdonald is Mike Morris, who was at Michigan when Macdonald was the DC in 2021.

John Schneider made it a point to cast a wide net in his head coaching search and in developing Macdonald’s staff. While Macdonald isn’t powerless and has surely been involved in the assistant hiring process, Schneider has final say on all personnel decisions related to roster and the coaching staff. Perhaps this was always by design given Macdonald is bringing his own system and not “The Ravens Way” or however you want to frame it. It’s still notable how completely different the Seahawks offseason unfolded compared to the other teams with new coaches and new staffs.

I hold no opinion whether it’s good or bad; it’s just different. And we’re going to find out very soon how this approach will work out.