Seattle Seahawks Coach Mike Macdonald Earns Record-Breaking Salary

The 36-year-old Macdonald became the highest-paid first-time NFL head coach in 2024 after leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl in just his second season.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

NFL coach Mike Macdonald joined the Seattle Seahawks as their head coach in February 2024 and in two short years has taken the team to the Super Bowl. Macdonald's rise to the top of the NFL came after coaching stints with the University of Georgia, Baltimore Ravens, and Michigan before joining the Seahawks on a lucrative six-year contract that made him the highest-paid first-time head coach in NFL history at the time.

Why it matters

Macdonald's rapid success with the Seahawks, including leading them to a franchise-record 14 wins in the 2025 season, has cemented his status as one of the league's top young coaching talents. His record-breaking contract also highlights the premium teams are willing to pay for up-and-coming coaches who can quickly turn around a franchise.

The details

Macdonald joined the Seahawks in 2024 after four years on the coaching staff at the University of Georgia and stints as a defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens and Michigan. In his first season with the Seahawks, the team celebrated three straight victories for the first time since 2020 and finished 10-7, making Macdonald the first head coach in franchise history to reach 10 wins in his inaugural season. The Seahawks missed the playoffs that year but returned in 2025 with a 14-3 regular season record, setting a franchise mark for wins in a season.

  • Macdonald joined the Seahawks as head coach in February 2024.
  • In his first season in 2024, the Seahawks finished 10-7.
  • In the 2025 season, the Seahawks went 14-3 and won the NFC West.
  • The Seahawks will face the New England Patriots in the 2026 Super Bowl on February 8, 2026.

The players

Mike Macdonald

The 36-year-old head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, who became the highest-paid first-time NFL head coach in 2024 when he signed a six-year contract with the team.

John Schneider

The general manager of the Seattle Seahawks who hired Macdonald as the team's head coach in 2024.

Sam Darnold

The Seahawks' starting quarterback who signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the team in 2025.

Jaxon Smith-Ngiba

A key player on the Seahawks' roster who has helped the team reach the Super Bowl in 2026.

Cooper Kupp

A wide receiver on the Seahawks' roster who has contributed to the team's success in recent seasons.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“What an honor. We are super excited to be here. Just getting to know [GM] John [Schneider] and the rest of the folks, the reputation of this place, what drew us here was the people.”

— Mike Macdonald, Head Coach, Seattle Seahawks (hellomagazine.com)

“My understanding is this is the highest paid—I don't know what the number is exactly—but he'll be the highest paid first-time coach ever. He had two teams there—when you have two bidders, you can bid one against the other one. That's the kind of stuff that can happen there. So Mike Macdonald got himself not only a long deal, but also a lucrative deal.”

— Mike Garofalo, NFL Expert (hellomagazine.com)

What’s next

The Seahawks will face the New England Patriots in the 2026 Super Bowl on February 8, 2026, as they look to win their first championship since 2014.

The takeaway

Macdonald's rapid rise to become one of the NFL's highest-paid head coaches at just 36 years old underscores the premium teams are willing to pay for young, innovative coaching talent that can quickly turn a franchise around. His success with the Seahawks in just two seasons has cemented his status as one of the league's top up-and-coming coaching minds.