“One of the great things that paints a great picture about what Jax means to us being a foundational piece of our football team and our organization is we’ve got a full house here,” the head coach said, via the team’s website.

“Just being able to see his growth over the two years that we’ve been here. I mean, the sky’s the limit. This is the beginning. This is another iteration of our football team, and Jax is obviously going to be a huge part of it.”

JSN sets sights on second Super Bowl title

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is determined to keep the momentum rolling with the Seattle Seahawks, with one clear goal in mind: capturing another title. In fact, he admitted the only thing better than winning a Super Bowl is doing it twice.

Improving on those numbers won’t be an easy task, but the motivation that comes with becoming the highest-paid wide receiver in league history could give him an extra edge. In 2025, he posted 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns.

New ground weapon for Macdonald?

Following Kenneth Walker III’s departure to the Kansas City Chiefs, Mike Macdonald’s team has been left somewhat depleted in the ground game. It’s worth noting the running back was named Super Bowl LV MVP.

For that reason, the Seahawks have set their sights on Najee Harris, though they’re not alone in the race. The Raiders have also entered the conversation for the former Chargers and Steelers running back, setting up a battle for his services ahead of the upcoming season.

“The only thing better than one Super Bowl is two,” the wide receiver revealed to the press. It won’t be an easy task, as they now have a target on their backs, and the other 31 teams will be looking to take that privileged spot away.

In recent days, Smith-Njigba became the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. Starting in Week 1, he’ll have to justify the immense trust his franchise placed in him with this new contract on the field.

A dream 2025 for Smith-Njigba

Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 2025 breakout campaign was nothing short of legendary, as he spearheaded the Seahawks‘ offense with a record-breaking performance. The star wideout led the NFL with a staggering 1,793 receiving yards and set franchise highs with 119 receptions and 10 touchdowns, earning him the league’s Offensive Player of the Year honors.

His impact reached its peak during Super Bowl LX, where his elite route running and gravity on the field dismantled the New England Patriots’ secondary. By drawing constant double-teams, JSN opened up the field for his teammates and came up clutch with several third-down conversions, ultimately proving to be the catalyst in Seattle’s decisive 29–13 victory to secure the Lombardi Trophy.

New offensive teammate in Seattle?

Looking ahead to next season’s roster, the Seattle Seahawks want to keep the bar high. Bringing in veteran leadership is seen as essential.

According to insider Ian Rapoport on X, the player who recently met with the franchise was none other than Najee Harris. The former Steelers star could land with Mike Macdonald’s team, though he’s also scheduled to interview with the Las Vegas Raiders.

During the 2025 NFL Honors ceremony, the league named Vrabel Coach of the Year following an impressive season in New England. While his regular-season performance earned widespread praise, the year ended on a different note.

In Super Bowl LX, Vrabel and the Patriots were outcoached by Macdonald and the Seahawks, who captured the franchise’s second Vince Lombardi Trophy. With the championship secured, many fans began questioning whether the Coach of the Year award should have gone elsewhere.

Mike Macdonald sends blunt message about COTY snub

The Seahawks celebrated their Super Bowl victory with a parade at Lumen Field on Wednesday, marking a historic moment for the franchise. Amid the festivities, the Coach of the Year debate resurfaced.

During the celebration, longtime Seahawks radio voice Steve Raible introduced Macdonald by saying he should have been named the 2025 Coach of the Year. When Macdonald stepped up to the microphone, he responded with a memorable line while holding the Lombardi Trophy: “I think I’ll take this trophy instead.”

Mike Macdonald’s key change for the Seahawks

Prior to the 2025 NFL season, the Seahawks made a bold decision at quarterback, bringing in Sam Darnold after Geno Smith departed for the Las Vegas Raiders. The move paid off in dramatic fashion. While Las Vegas finished with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Seattle went on to win Super Bowl LX.

Macdonald’s impact on the team was undeniable throughout the 2025 campaign, and the decision to trust Darnold proved to be one of the defining moves of the season. Under his leadership, the Seahawks found consistency, confidence, and ultimately championship success.

The receiver’s career so far has been stellar. He has lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy twice (once with the Rams and most recently this past weekend) and was also named MVP in his first Super Bowl. Because of this, Macdonald did not hesitate to state that Kupp has a Hall of Fame–worthy future.

“Cooper is an absolute force multiplier, an absolute stud of a person, stud of a teammate,” Seahawks head coach said Sunday evening. “This should cement him in the Hall of Fame, in my opinion. Super Bowl MVP, two-time champion, all-time great teammate.

“I think the other thing with Coop is the way he’s helped our program and how we do things from day to day is not talked about enough. He’s got a great perspective. I’d be an idiot not to listen to him. Sometimes we don’t do what he wants, but we definitely listen to him.”

The key to success, according to Kupp

Winning a Super Bowl is undoubtedly one of the most difficult goals for any NFL team. It not only requires talent, but also the human quality necessary to achieve great objectives.

“It’s unbelievable,” Kupp after Sunday’s game. “To be in this place, it’s hallowed ground. Only the teams that come together to fight through adversity — you’re going to see it, you’re going to find times when things don’t go your way. We had such a connected group.

“Every single person to a man would say the special thing about this group is how connected we are. A belief in each other, a genuine love for each other to see the guy next to you succeed and that made all the difference in the world.”

From this point on — even long before the first practice of the new season begins — the Seahawks’ head coach knows that every one of his rivals will want to beat them starting in Week 1.

“We use the term ‘chasing edges’ here in Seattle,” Macdonald said at the Super Bowl handover press conference. “You have to live like that, you know, you can’t be copying everybody else. We want to be on the forefront of things. We know that — we know that we’re target No. 1 now.

“But again, it’s really gonna be our mentality for us to keep pushing the envelope with our personnel, where we can take things at our speed, you know? And so, there’s gonna be times where we feel like teams get a beat on us, and we’re gonna have to move and shake, and that’s happened several times throughout this season as well. And that’s just how we operate.”

Full confidence in his players in Seattle

The Seahawks’ entire staff put in tremendous preparation to stop Drake Maye and his offense. However, when the game began, the head coach left everything in the hands of his players, who responded positively from the very first snap.

“It’s funny, I told the team, on Saturday night, you know, I got a bad habit of hemming and hawing in my office, and with the rest of our coaching staff, thinking about plays and what we’re gonna run, and how it’s gonna go,” the HC said, “and then you get around the guys, and you see them, and all of a sudden, all those worries kind of go away magically.

“I think that speaks to how they played. Became very clear very early that they were a determined bunch that were gonna play our style ball last night. At that point, really, you know, the place became irrelevant. It was really the style of how the guys played, just to play that relentlessly throughout the game was really impressive, and really proud of those guys. That was a remarkable game by our defense.”

What’s next for the Seahawks?

The city of Seattle is buzzing with excitement as fans prepare for a massive Seahawks victory parade, scheduled as a citywide tribute on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. This historic celebration will see the streets painted in emerald and navy as the community gathers to honor the team’s incredible achievement.

The quarterback’s career in this league got off to a turbulent start, failing to meet early expectations. Stops with the Jets, Panthers, then the 49ers followed, before he slowly began to rebuild his game upon arriving in Minnesota with the Vikings. Macdonald knew Darnold had something special inside him — something that could ultimately lead him to greatness.

“Sam doesn’t care about the obstacles,” the HC said to the press. “Everybody’s made a narrative about this guy. They have tried to put a story and a label on who he is as a person, who he is as a quarterback. He does not care. He’s the same guy every day since he showed up.

“He’s so steadfast, he’s a great teammate, his teammates love him. All he’s done since he’s walked in the door is be a tremendous player on our football team and a tremendous leader who’s the same every day. That’s who he is and that’s how we need to talk about him moving forward.”

Darnold’s epic season in Seattle

In his standout 2025 debut season with the Seattle Seahawks, Sam Darnold proved to be the missing piece for the team’s offense, leading them to a dominant 14–3 record.

The veteran quarterback amassed an impressive 4,048 passing yards and threw 25 touchdowns, effectively silencing critics who doubted his consistency. Despite recording 14 interceptions, Darnold maintained a solid 55.6 QBR, demonstrating his ability to keep the chains moving and elevate Seattle to the top of the NFC West.

First ring for Sam Darnold

In a historic night for Seattle, Darnold silenced the skeptics by leading the Seahawks to a thrilling 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots on the game’s biggest stage.

After years of perseverance, the veteran quarterback finally reached the summit of the NFL, lifting his first Super Bowl at 28, and cementing his legacy with a performance for the ages.

Josh Dubow of the Associated Press revealed on X (@joshdubowap) a detailed list of coaches who have won a Super Bowl by year on the job. Before Macdonald’s Super Bowl LX victory, eight head coaches had previously done it in their second season with their respective teams.

This marks Macdonald’s first Super Bowl title, capping what has been his best season as a head coach. The Seahawks finished 14–3, surpassing his 10–3 record in his debut season in 2024, and he also won his first three postseason games.

Praise and records for Macdonald after winning Super Bowl LX

In addition to winning Super Bowl LX in his second year, Macdonald set several other marks and earned praise from analysts, reporters, and fellow coaches who have highlighted how effective his system has been with the Seahawks.

One of the first records Macdonald set by the end of the season is becoming the head coach under 40 with the most wins in a single season, including the playoffs. The NFL shared the milestone on X (@nflplus). He had previously been tied with Sean McVay for the top spot, but now stands alone.

“This will be remembered as the night Mike Macdonald cemented himself as the transcendent coach of this era. The defensive version of the Shanahan/McVay movement that started a decade ago begins now,” Nico wrote on X (@elitetakes_).

Another notable stat on young head coaches winning the Super Bowl was shared by Jimmy Ray through his stats account on X (@nfl_stats): “Mike Macdonald is the fourth head coach to win a Super Bowl before turning 40. He’s the first ever to win while also calling defensive plays.”

“I’m so proud of our guys. Our defense, I can’t say enough good things about out defense and special teams. I know we won the Super Bowl, but we could’ve been a little bit better offensively. But I don’t care about that right now,” Darnold admitted during his postgame interview on the field.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling. I’m just so happy for the guys in the locker room, the coaches that put in so much effort through the whole season. All my teammates, all my coaches I’ve ever had always believed in me, and I’ve always believed in myself because of my family and friends. It’s as simple as that, as long as you believe in yourself, anything is possible.”

Darnold gets his ring

The former third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft once became a nationwide meme as he admitted to seeing ghosts during a game. Now, he’s become a symbol of perseverance and never giving up.

Hoisting his first Super Bowl at 28, Darnold is a long ways from reaching greats like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, who had won several rings by the age of 28, but one has got to start somewhere. For Darnold, it took a while, but his story has come to a perfect ending—except it’s only getting started.

What a journey

Many believed the die was cast for Darnold. After a rough start to his career with the New York Jets, followed by uneventful stints with the Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers, Darnold proved he could command an offense when the Minnesota Vikings took him in ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

Still, belief in him always seemed short-leashed, with organizations keeping a wary eye on him and his turnover meltdowns. Even as he led the Seahawks to a 14–3 record, finishing atop the NFC and reaching Super Bowl LX, many across the league believed Darnold would revert to his rookie, wet-behind-the-ears version on the biggest stage.

On February 8, on national television, Darnold proved the world wrong. For immortality, a Super Bowl ring will silence every critic. Darnold is indeed a franchise quarterback in the NFL, and he can lead a team to a Super Bowl. In fact, he now has.

Before life on the sidelines, she carved out her own connection to the league. A former NFL cheerleader for multiple teams, she later parlayed her experiences into professional roles beyond the field.

Their partnership, from its beginnings to marriage and the arrival of their son, has woven personal milestones into the backdrop of his coaching ascent. Yet her story holds its own rhythms, not fully revealed in the roar of game day.

Stephanie Macdonald and Mike Macdonald’s love story

The couple first crossed paths in October 2015 with the Baltimore Ravens, where Mike was on the coaching staff and Stephanie cheered for the team. They didn’t begin dating until March 2016, after she left the Ravens to avoid conflict with her role. The connection deepened over time, leading to their engagement in 2019 and eventual marriage in 2021.

Their relationship has moved with his coaching career — from Maryland to Michigan and beyond — often blending personal milestones with professional shifts. When Mike was introduced as head coach of the Seahawks in 2024, he publicly praised her support, calling her an “absolute rock star” and highlighting her role in his life.

How many children do Stephanie Macdonald and Mike Macdonald have?

Stephanie and Mike Macdonald welcomed their first child, a son named Jack David Macdonald, in December 2024, marking a new chapter alongside his first season as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

Mike shared the news the day after in a press conference, expressing both excitement and admiration for his wife: “Well, I guess the cat’s out of the bag by now. But Steph had our boy last night, and both are happy and healthy. Man, It’s a crazy statement to say out loud, but we’re really excited and really blessed, obviously“.

He continued by praising her strength, saying: “What women can do is just an unbelievable thing. What a warrior she is, and she’s awesome“. Jack’s arrival represented a big moment in the couple’s life, highlighting her role not only as a mother but as a steadfast partner.

How many seasons was Stephanie Macdonald an NFL cheerleader?

Stephanie Macdonald cheered in the NFL for eight seasons, joining three different teams during her career. She spent time with the Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders, and was honored as a Pro Bowl cheerleader with the Ravens in 2014.

Beyond cheerleading, she also sang the National Anthem at a Commanders game, showcasing her talents beyond dance and performance, as Marca reported.

For Macdonald, the Seahawks success stems from hard work at the fundamentals of football. In defense, for instance, it’s making tackles. At the pre-Super Bowl LX press conference, Macdonald emphasized the importance of tackling.

“We drill the fundamentals of tackling and finishing every day,” the second-year coach said. “We do it as a team, we do it in our warmup before games. It’s part of our DNA and the guys take a lot of pride in it.” For the Seahawks to beat the Patriots, their tackling must be really good.

The Seahawks defense must place the Pats offense in serious trouble

The Seahawks are good at tackling but this time, it’s even more important. Especially when Drake Maye is in front. Maye was the fourth-most sacked quarterback in the NFL, had eight fumbles in the regular season too. However, this has became an even bigger problem during the playoffs.

Maye has been sacked five times in each of the Patriots postseason games. The Pats QB has six fumbles in the postseason alone. Hence, if the Seahawks’ tackling is on point, they could be looking at forced turnovers to help them win the game. Rhamondre Stevenson, the Patriots running back, also has had fumble issues in his career, hence it goes beyond the quarterback.

The Seahawks offense must make life for the defense easier

While the Seahawks could have a field day creating turnovers, the fact is that the Seattle offense is not precisely a unit that takes care of the ball. Seattle ranked 31st in giveaways. Hence, the team had the second-most lost balls in the NFL during the regular season.

Alarms went off in the last few hours at the facility where Mike Macdonald’s team is currently training, as one of its defensive stars got injured and its status for Sunday remains uncertain.

Nick Emmanwori was listed as limited on Wednesday after suffering an injury to one of his ankles, according to pool reporter Kalyn Kahler of ESPN. While the safety was seen leaving the field on his own, the severity of the injury is still unknown.

“He had an ankle injury today,” head coach Macdonald told Kahler. “We brought him in to look at it, and we’ll kind of go from here and figure out what are the next steps.”

The impact of Emmanwori on the Seahawks’ defense

Nick Emmanwori has emerged as a cornerstone of the Seahawks‘ secondary, proving to be a second-round steal and a top finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year. His consistency throughout the season was anchored by 56 solo tackles, 1 interception, and an impressive 11 passes defended.

However, it was the NFC Championship Game where he truly elevated his game, recording three crucial pass breakups to stifle the opposition and punch Seattle’s ticket to the Super Bowl.

Darnold’s current situation

Since January 15, Sam Darnold has not participated in full practices with his teammates as he continues to recover from a left oblique injury. Macdonald, in remarks to the press, sought to reassure everyone on the matter.

“Sam’s right on schedule,” the HC told Kahler. “So we’ve had this plan here over the last X amount of weeks, and it varies every day. And today he had a great day, so we’re right on schedule.”