This week, I talk with Mike Macdonald, head coach of the Seattle Seahawks and the youngest head coach in the NFL. Mike opens up about his journey from coaching high-schoolers as a college student to leading elite defenses with the Ravens and Wolverines—and now, running one of the most storied franchises in football. We explore how he’s balancing tradition and innovation, what it really means to set the standard inside a world-class organization, and how the Seahawks are training their players mentally as much as physically. This conversation is a look behind the scenes at what it takes to become the kind of leader who earns trust, embraces the grind, and stays true to their values under pressure.. Whether you’re leading a team, building something from the ground up, or just trying to take the next step in your own growth, there’s something here for you. Let’s get to it.
In this episode:
- (00:00) – The youngest head coach in the NFL
- (02:23) – Why Mike Macdonald cracks dad jokes in the NFL
- (04:43) – Mike’s transition from player to coach
- (14:42) – Lessons learned under Todd Grantham
- (17:47) – Two coaches, two styles—what Mike really learned from both
- (22:44) – “I almost walked away from coaching”
- (25:41) – How a phone call from the Ravens changed everything
- (34:05) – What Mike learned from both Harbaugh brothers
- (39:55) – Leading under fire: how to stay steady in the storm
- (42:51) – The moment Mike realized he might be head coach material
- (48:29) – Inside Mike’s NFL head coach interview process
- (52:49) – Mike’s 3-pillar philosophy for leading a team
- (54:54) – Rethinking what it means to be “the head coach”
- (58:02) – Setting the standard—and getting everyone to buy in
- (01:01:32) – How to build a culture players actually believe in
- (01:04:07) – The weight of being the one who sets the tone
- (01:08:34) – Mike on mental toughness—for himself and his team
- (01:16:20) – Taking the reins from Pete Carroll
- (01:24:22) – What makes Mike world-class?
- (01:26:08) – Mike’s most beautiful future
- (01:27:39) – Who Mike is becoming
Key Takeaways
- Leadership Starts with Service, Not Status: Mike’s view of leadership transformed when he realized it wasn’t about titles or prestige—it was about serving others. Whether coaching high school athletes or leading an NFL team, he learned that great leaders build trust by genuinely caring for people and helping them grow. Leadership is a responsibility to serve.
- Embrace the Grind—It’s Where Mastery Is Built: In the early stages of his career, Mike volunteered, worked thankless hours, and lived out of the office—not because he had to, but because he saw every task as an opportunity to learn. He emphasizes that the skills and insights that prepared him for leadership were forged during those years of quiet, unseen work. There are no shortcuts—just repetition, patience, and showing up every day.
- Humor, Humanity, and Focus Can Coexist: In an intense and high-stakes environment like the NFL, Macdonald makes room for humor and lightness. He believes creating a culture that’s “loose and focused” allows people to be themselves, build stronger relationships, and perform at their best. Leaders set the tone by modeling authenticity and letting others bring their full selves to the team.
- You Don’t Have to Know the Destination to Take the Next Step: Mike didn’t set out to become an NFL head coach. In fact, he almost walked away from coaching entirely to take a job in consulting. But by following a sense of calling and staying faithful to the opportunities in front of him, the path unfolded. Pursue what feels meaningful—even when the future is unclear—and trust that clarity often follows commitment.
- The Best Leaders Create Stretch Without Breaking People: Now as a head coach, Mike actively looks for ways to help others grow. He mentors ambitious young staffers by giving them meaningful projects that stretch their skills while offering support and feedback. If someone is hungry and talented, it’s your job to help them eat. Growth environments don’t happen by accident—they’re built intentionally by leaders who remember what it felt like to be in the trenches.
Quotes
“Leadership is about service and servant leadership. You learn it really quick when you sit in front of the kids and they don’t care who you are. Athletes want to know, do you care about them and can you help them? And that’s like the definition of service right there.” ~ Mike Macdonald
“Now 90% of my work is interpersonal. It’s relationship building and setting those people up on how to think, and then they serve the team.” ~ Mike Macdonald
“It’s really important to have a clear idea of where you’re going and what you’re trying to get and make that compelling to the people across your organization.” ~ Mike Macdonald
If you don’t have the passion for it, you’re not in. Are you contributing real things? Or are you just kind of going through the motion in life? That was something that was really important to me. You have to go through the steps the right way. You can’t skip steps or anything like that. It’s not going to happen faster.” ~ Mike Macdonald
”This is what we want to be about. These are our principles. We’re not budging. It starts with the team. It starts with what’s best for the team. We’re going to operate with respect, integrity, hard work, and treating people the right way.” ~ Mike Macdonald
Links
- Mike Macdonald joins the Seahawks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpaIHnhjRZ8
- Seahawks: https://www.seahawks.com/
- Julian Love: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Love
- Chargers: https://www.chargers.com/
- UGA: https://www.uga.edu/
- Bulldogs: https://georgiadogs.com/
- Institute for Leadership Advancement: https://www.terry.uga.edu/ila/
- Leonard Leadership Scholars: https://www.terry.uga.edu/ila/leadership-certificate/leonard-leadership-scholars/
- Todd Grantham: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Grantham
- Mark Richt: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Richt
- Cedar Shoal Athletics: https://www.cedarshoalsathletics.com/
- Michigan State: https://msu.edu/
- Wolverines: https://mgoblue.com/
- Rams: https://www.therams.com/
- Bobby Bowden: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Bowden
- Ravens: https://www.baltimoreravens.com/
- Ozzie Newsome: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozzie_Newsome
- Pete Carroll: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Carroll
- Leslie Frazier: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Frazier
- Mike Holmgren: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Holmgren
- Jody Allen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jody_Allen
- Paul Allen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Allen
- Jim Harbaugh: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Harbaugh
- Kirby Smart: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirby_Smart
Connect with Mike Macdonald
- Seahawks: https://www.seahawks.com/
- X / Twitter: https://x.com/Seahawks
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seahawks
Connect with Barrett
- Barrett’s newsletter: https://BarrettBrooks.com
- X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/barrettabrooks
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barrettabrooks
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