Seahawks Defense Shines As Macdonald And Kubiak Draw NFL Spotlight

Seattle football fans, buckle up—change is in the air, and the city’s NFL team is right at the center of it all. Just two years ago, the Seattle Seahawks were staring down a crossroads. Pete Carroll, the architect of the Seahawks’ Super Bowl glory and a fixture on the sidelines for a decade, was let go after the 2023 season. Loyalty to his longtime assistants and players had become a double-edged sword. As the team’s fortunes waned, it became clear that a new direction was needed. Enter Mike Macdonald, a former defensive coordinator with no head coaching experience. The move raised eyebrows across the league. Could a rookie head coach really steer the Seahawks back to prominence?

Fast forward to today, and the answer seems to be a resounding yes. Macdonald has not just steadied the ship—he’s turned the Seahawks into one of the NFL’s most formidable defensive squads. Over two regular seasons, Seattle has posted a 24-10 record under his leadership. That’s not just good; it’s elite. And the team’s first playoff game with Macdonald at the helm? A masterclass. The offense hummed with efficiency, the special teams electrified the crowd by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown, and the defense played at a level reminiscent of the legendary Legion of Boom era.

The Divisional Round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers was a showcase of Macdonald’s defensive prowess. Seattle’s defense held a well-coached 49ers offense to just 236 total yards and a measly six points. That’s not all—over two consecutive games against San Francisco, the Seahawks have surrendered only nine points. Even All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey, usually a nightmare for opposing defenses, found little room to operate. Was San Francisco dealing with injuries? Sure. But this is the same 49ers squad that had no trouble dispatching the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round and rolled over the Chicago Bears in Week 17. The difference? Seattle’s defense, molded in Macdonald’s image, is a different breed entirely.

“Whatever magic he works, he works quickly,” one source close to the team observed. And it’s hard to argue with that assessment. The Seahawks, once thought to be lacking the personnel for another defensive renaissance, have been transformed. Macdonald’s system has maximized the talent on hand, turning the defense into arguably the best in the NFL in just two seasons. The team’s rapid turnaround has fans and analysts alike buzzing about the future. The NFC Championship game is next up, and it’ll be held at the deafening Lumen Field, with the 12s ready to make life miserable for Seattle’s opponent. But as daunting as the crowd will be, the real challenge for any visiting team will be cracking the code of Macdonald’s defense.

Yet, as Seattle’s defense dominates headlines, the team’s offensive brain trust is attracting attention from across the NFL. Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak has become one of the hottest names in coaching circles. During Seattle’s bye week in the 2025 NFL season, at least six teams reached out to gauge his interest in their head coaching vacancies. The buzz was real—Kubiak’s innovative approach and strong 2025 campaign made him a top target. But the coaching carousel spins quickly, and some doors have closed. On January 18, 2026, the Atlanta Falcons finalized a deal with Kevin Stefanski, the former two-time NFL Coach of the Year with the Cleveland Browns, ending their pursuit of Kubiak.

Stefanski’s hire is notable in its own right. He led the Browns to their only playoff win in the modern era and was twice named Coach of the Year, in 2020 and 2023. However, his final two seasons in Cleveland were rocky, with an 8-26 record largely due to quarterback woes after the team’s gamble on Deshaun Watson didn’t pan out. Atlanta, with a roster loaded with young talent—think Bijan Robinson, Michael Penix Jr, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts—was seen as an ideal landing spot for a rising offensive mind like Kubiak. But with Stefanski now in charge, that opportunity is off the table.

So where does that leave Kubiak? Several other teams are still searching for their next head coach. The Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, and Arizona Cardinals all have vacancies. Each offers a mix of promise and peril, with varying levels of young talent and organizational stability. But there’s a catch: Kubiak can’t officially be hired until the Seahawks’ season ends. For teams eager to lock in their next leader, waiting for Seattle’s playoff run to conclude could be a risky proposition. The longer the Seahawks stay alive, the greater the chance that other candidates will fill those openings before Kubiak becomes available.

Speculation swirls. Will Kubiak land a head coaching job this offseason, or will he remain in Seattle for another year, further burnishing his credentials and perhaps becoming the undisputed top candidate in 2027? Some Seahawks fans wouldn’t mind seeing him stick around a bit longer, especially given the offensive strides made this season. “If you’re rooting for that to happen, tonight’s decision by the Atlanta Falcons should make you happy,” noted one analyst.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks’ focus remains squarely on the task at hand: winning football games. With Macdonald’s defense firing on all cylinders and Kubiak’s offense drawing league-wide admiration, Seattle has quickly reestablished itself as a contender. Hosting the NFC Championship at Lumen Field is a testament to how far the team has come in such a short time. The atmosphere promises to be electric, with fans hungry for another shot at Super Bowl glory.

Looking back, the decision to part ways with Pete Carroll was tough but necessary. His legacy in Seattle is secure—no one can take away the Super Bowl championship or the culture he built. But the NFL is a league of constant evolution, and the Seahawks’ willingness to take a calculated risk on Mike Macdonald has paid off handsomely. The defense is once again the envy of the league, and the coaching staff’s success is drawing admiration—and suitors—from all corners.

As the NFC Championship approaches, one thing is clear: Seattle is back in the thick of the NFL’s elite, and the rest of the league is taking notice. The only question now is how far this revitalized team can go. With Macdonald’s defensive genius and Kubiak’s offensive creativity, the Seahawks are poised to make plenty of noise—not just this postseason, but for years to come.

For now, all eyes turn to Lumen Field, where the next chapter of Seattle’s remarkable resurgence will be written. The city’s football faithful have reason to believe, and the journey is far from over.