Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald remembers growing up around his family’s kitchen table in Massachusetts, to mornings checking the newspaper with his father to see if the New England Patriots had won. On Sunday, the team he grew up following will be standing across the field from him in Super Bowl 60.
What Did Mike Macdonald Say As he Reflected on Boston Roots
Macdonald told NFL Network’s Rich Eisen that he spent the first years of his life in Scituate, Massachusetts, and grew up a New England fan. Scituate is a city near Boston.
He remembered the excitement when the Patriots drafted Drew Bledsoe and how those early seasons shaped his connection to football. When Eisen pointed out that a Seattle victory would disappoint many back home, Macdonald answered carefully, saying he has respect for New England, but his allegiance is with the Seahawks now.
“I grew up a huge New England Patriots fan, honestly. I remember my dad opening the newspaper on Monday mornings and I’d ask if the Patriots won,” Macdonald said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for the folks up in New England, but our allegiance lies up here now.”
He described the Super Bowl opportunity as something he never imagined as a kid. Macdonald said Seattle’s advantage has been the way the roster operates as a single unit, repeating the phrase “12 is one” to explain the team’s approach. He credited that internal bond for carrying the Seahawks through the NFC playoffs and into this matchup.
Seattle has won nine consecutive games. Macdonald said the routine that carried the club here has not changed during Super Bowl week. He acknowledged the challenge of facing a Patriots team led by Mike Vrabel, another coach with New England ties.
The Seahawks coach is attempting to win a championship in just his second season on the job. Before Seattle, He spent nine of the previous 10 seasons with the Ravens, including the last two as defensive coordinator, and one year at Michigan in 2021.
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His 2023 Ravens unit became the first defense in NFL history to finish No. 1 in points allowed, sacks, and takeaways in the same season. Macdonald previously coached linebackers and defensive backs in Baltimore and began his career at Georgia as a student assistant.
Super Bowl 60 Preview: PFSN Metrics Highlight Narrow Seattle Advantage
Our PFSN NFL Playoff Predictor gives Seattle a 55.8 percent chance to win Super Bowl 60. The Seahawks rank ninth in the PFSN Offense Impact Metric and third in the Defense Impact Metric. Seattle is the only team with top-10 marks on both sides.
New England holds the quarterback edge with Drake Maye graded No. 2 in the PFSN QB Impact Metric. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold ranks No. 13.
Seattle’s special teams scored 5 touchdowns this season and blocked 3 kicks, a factor that could tilt a close game. The Patriots also have the league’s worst-ranked red zone defense.
PFSN projects a tight finish with a predicted score of Seahawks 27, Patriots 20.
