When the Seattle Seahawks prepare to face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60 on Sunday, all eyes will be on head coach Mike Macdonald, not only for guiding Seattle to the sport’s biggest stage, but also for being on the verge of history at a young age. Here’s where Macdonald ranks among the NFL’s youngest head coaches.
Mike Macdonald Still One of the Youngest Head Coaches in the NFL
Macdonald is 38 years old, born on June 26, 1987. He is one of the youngest head coaches in the NFL and is attempting to lead the Seahawks to a championship just two seasons into his tenure.
The NFL has embraced a string of young coaches, with Joe Brady officially becoming the youngest head coach in 2026 after the Buffalo Bills replaced Sean McDermott after nearly a decade in late January.
Youngest NFL Head Coaches in 2026
- Joe Brady (Bills) — 36
- Kellen Moore (New Orleans Saints) — 37
- Mike Macdonald (Seahawks) — 38
- Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears) — 39
- Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams) — 39
- Liam Coen (Jacksonville Jaguars) — 40
Youngest Head Coaches in the NFL Modern Era
MacDonald is third on the list in 2026, just two years older than Brady. However, the Rams’ McVay, who is now 39, was a historic hire at 30 and is the youngest head coach in modern NFL history.
- Sean McVay (Rams) — 30 years, 353 days
- Lane Kiffin (Oakland Raiders) — 31 years, 259 days
- Harland Svare (Rams) — 31 years, 11 months*
- John Michelosen (Pittsburgh Steelers) — 32 years, 2 months*
- Raheem Morris (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) — 32 years, 135 days
(* Michelosen was appointed in April 1948, while Svare began his tenure before the 1962 season. Exact dates couldn’t be confirmed.)
Macdonald at 38 Could Create History If Seahawks Win Super Bowl 60
If Macdonald wins Super Bowl 60, he would join an elite group of the youngest coaches to win a championship. McVay and Mike Tomlin both captured Super Bowls in their mid-30s. A title on Sunday with the Seahawks would place Macdonald among the third-youngest Super Bowl-winning coaches in NFL history.
- Sean McVay (Rams) — 36 years, 20 days at Super Bowl 56 in 2022
- Mike Tomlin (Steelers) — 36 years, 323 days at Super Bowl 43 in 2009
- Jon Gruden (Buccaneers) — 39 years, 162 days at Super Bowl 37 in 2003
- John Madden (Las Vegas Raiders) — 40 years, 274 days at Super Bowl 11 in 1977
- Joe Gibbs (Washington Commanders) — 42 years, 66 days at Super Bowl 17 in 1983
Seattle reached Super Bowl 60 on conviction by trusting a young coach with a vision, while also making bold calls after general manager John Schneider made bold calls in the offseason by trading away quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf.
The decisions paid off with QB Sam Darnold playing at a Pro Bowl level while Jaxon Smith-Njigba stood out as one of the best receivers and Offensive Player of the Year.
READ MORE: Super Bowl 60 Predictions: Predicting the Winner, Final Score, MVP, and More
Seattle earned the NFC’s top seed by dominating two ways, ranking third in points scored and first in points allowed. According to PFSN’s Offensive Impact, the Seahawks rank 9th with a 79.8 score, while in the Defensive Impact, they rank third with an impressive 88.4 score.
Seattle cruised past the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round before surviving a tight NFC Championship Game with a 31-27 win against the Rams, led by Darnold’s efficiency and a spread-out passing attack. Now, with the Seahawks one win away from a title, Macdonald is on the verge of NFL history.
