Mike Macdonald’s honeymoon wasn’t just a vacation; it was the seed of a Super Bowl-winning philosophy. The Seattle Seahawks head coach, who led his team to glory in February, is now borrowing from the Chicago Bulls‘ dynasty to chase an encore.
Macdonald’s viral first-team meeting in 2024 predicted a spot in the NFC Championship Game, a prophecy that came true 21 months later as Seattle beat the Los Angeles Rams and eventually defeated the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium. But he explains that the vision was never about the trophy itself.
“The message wasn’t winning the NFC Championship, it was the feeling of our team that we were trying to create, of the trust, the bond, the connection and toughness,” Macdonald told Sky Sports. “Everybody is worried about their first team meeting. I overthought it tremendously. It’s like your wedding speech, you write out something like crazy and toss the paper in the garbage and end up speaking from the heart.”
This offseason, Macdonald has drawn inspiration from Phil Jackson’s Chicago Bulls, as detailed in the book “Sacred Hoops,” which he first read during his 2021 honeymoon. “The 91 Bulls, you think it’s the first year of the three-peat,” he said. “It was from the first time Phil Jackson took over the Bulls and the vision he had for their basketball team. They had the best player in the world, but to become the best team in the world they all had to buy in rather than just defer to Michael (Jordan) every play.”
That same principle anchors the Seahawks’ “12 is One” synergy. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, is central to that unity. He led the league with 1,793 receiving yards last season, hauling in 119 catches and 10 touchdowns while helping Seattle capture the Lombardi Trophy.
Smith-Njigba’s connection with quarterback Sam Darnold silenced doubters. “His journey is definitely crazy, a lot of ups and downs; that’s how life is,” Smith-Njigba said. “With the quarterback position you get a lot of publicity and a lot of media attention, if we lose it’s on you, if we win it’s the team. I was happy we could shut a lot of doubters and naysayers up; they can’t say too much now. The proof is in the pudding.”
The wide receiver’s emergence earned him a four-year, $168 million extension, making him the highest-paid player at his position in league history. “It’s a blessing. I want to be here,” he said. “I think this offseason was a great time for me to figure myself out and grow as a player and person. I think you’ll see a different level from me coming into the season.”
Seattle’s offseason brought changes on offense. Super Bowl running back Kenneth Walker III signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak left to become head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Brian Fleury, formerly the San Francisco 49ers‘ run game coordinator and tight ends coach, steps in as the new offensive coordinator.
Macdonald welcomes the fresh perspective. “Brian has done a great job,” he said. “The challenge he has is he’s coming into a team with a lot of continuity within the staff, and a lot with the personnel. The easy thing to do is fall in line, but that’s not how we want to operate; we want him to add his vision and empower him to add what he sees and his talents to the whole engine.”
Smith-Njigba, who recalls embracing cornerback Devon Witherspoon when the clock hit zero at Super Bowl 60, remains confident but grounded. “We really just want to be in the moment,” he said. “We’ll take it one step at a time and let the story tell itself.”
The Seahawks open their title defense with a new offensive voice and the same collective dream. As Macdonald’s honeymoon reading suggested, the journey is just as important as the destination.
