SAN FRANCISCO – It took just two seasons for Mike Macdonald to take the Seattle Seahawks from a playoff spot to a Super Bowl champion.
A dominant defensive performance in a blowout win over the New England Patriots underscored the defensive guru’s status among the NFL’s top youngsters. Macdonald is the third youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl (38 years, 227 days old). His 17 wins this season set a new record for most wins in a season by a head coach under the age of 40 (including playoff games).
With a young head coach and a roster that general manager John Schneider built to last, Seattle won’t be a one-hit wonder. The Seahawks might just be hitting their stride under Macdonald. After a quick climb to the top of the mountain, it’s never too early to start thinking about this ridiculous repeat.
Next season, Seattle will host the Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers.
Here are my top four matchups for the Seahawks to begin their Super Bowl defense in the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game: