The Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl champions for the second time in franchise history after defeating the New England Patriots. Their dominant triumph stings a little for Washington Commanders fans, with head coach Mike Macdonald spurning the team's advances to join the NFC West club instead.
It capped a stunning season for the Seahawks, who missed the playoffs a year ago and were given lofty Super Bowl odds at the start of 2025. But led by their suffocating defense, they shocked the NFL.
Much of that can be chalked up to Macdonald's masterful job. His unique defensive scheme has revolutionized strategies across the league, and Daronte Jones needs to take notes.
How Daronte Jones can take a page out of Mike Macdonald's book to turn around Commanders' defense
We've seen the hot trend of young, offensive-minded scheme-genius coaches taking over the NFL, starting with Sean McVay and continuing with hires such as Matt LaFleur, Kevin O'Connell, Ben Johnson, and Liam Coen. Generally, defense-focused head coaches have remained more old-school, with Washington's Dan Quinn and New England's Mike Vrabel being prime examples.
Macdonald's success, however, might forever change the archetype of what NFL front offices look for in a defensive head coach. He runs an elaborate scheme predicated on deception. It allows Seattle's "Dark Side" defense to perform far beyond what its parts would suggest on paper.
Macdonald's unit has frequently pressured the quarterback without blitzing, which makes the Seahawks all the more dangerous when he does decide to bring the heat. In the secondary, he uses the nickel corner more often than any other coach, enabled by the dominance of his front four.
More than anything, Macdonald's scheme depends on his unit being in sync and playing disciplined ball. He's designed a system in which everyone thrives in their roles, and all three levels strengthen one another.
It will be a challenge for Jones, or anybody else around the league, to replicate what Macdonald has built. But Seattle's success with a unit that doesn't include very many household names or feature a true game-changing superstar should inspire hope that Washington might not be as far away as it looks.
Only two years ago, the Seahawks' defense ranked third-worst in the league in yards allowed. Things change fast in the NFL — coaching and roster construction can make a massive difference.
Washington will need to hope Jones can work similar magic with the Commanders as Macdonald has in Seattle.