They are playing outstanding defense in 2025, well, almost outstanding, because the Seattle Seahawks have one fatal flaw. An underlying failing that threatens to undermine the work done by head coach Mike Macdonald to “redefine” the unit.
Macdonald has designed and is overseeing, along with coordinator Aden Durde, a defense ranked fourth in points and 11th for yards allowed, per Pro Football Reference. Those are solid numbers, but the Seattle D’ is struggling to play a complete game.
It almost cost the NFC West outfit against division rivals the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday Night Football in Week 4. When the Seahawks scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to erase a 20-6 deficit.
Those scores meant “the Seahawks have now allowed more points the fourth quarter — 34 — than every other quarter combined (33),” according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.
It’s a worrying vulnerability for a group otherwise showing signs of dominance. Signs that are a credit to Macdonald’s reputation as a designer of some of the most sophisticated defensive schemes seen in the modern NFL.
Mike Macdonald Building Something Special in Seattle
Macdonald has built an impressive track record for defensive turnarounds. One spelled out by Doug Farrar of Athlon Sports.
Farrar referenced how “Since 2021, Mike Macdonald has: Completely redefined the Michigan Wolverines defense; Completely redefined the Baltimore Ravens defense; and Completely redefined the Seattle Seahawks defense. If there’s a better defensive mind in football, I’m drawing a blank.”
It’s lofty praise, and some around the league would debate Macdonald’s status as the dean of defensive minds in the pro game. A contemporary like Kansas City Chiefs play-caller Steve Spagnuolo, who has four Super Bowl rings to his credit as a DC and has consistently thwarted the dynamic quarterbacks of this era, could lay at least an equally strong claim to that status.
What is fair about Farrar’s assessment is Macdonald having “redefined” how the Seahawks travel on the defensive side of the ball. He’s moved them away from the three-deep coverage favored for so long under predecessor Pete Carroll to something unpredictable and creative.
The difference is most obvious up front.
Seahawks Dominating 1 Area of Defense
Macdonald has made things fun along the defensive line, where a dominant group is being led by a veteran in peak form. Versatile and destructive defensive tackle Leonard Williams is without equal, according to Macdonald, who “doesn’t think there’s a D-lineman playing better than him,” per ESPN’s Brady Henderson.
Williams is wrecking protection at will, but his enthusiasm got the better of him against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3. The 31-year-old has been subjected to league-mandated punishment for an ill-advised hit.
It’s a rare blot on Williams’ copybook, but he’s far from alone in putting heat on quarterbacks for these Seahawks. Something Kyler Murray and the Cards learned the hard way.
Macdonald’s elaborate blitz packages meant “The Seahawks finished with 14 different defenders recording at least one pressure on Kyler Murray; only one defender finished with more than two (Uchenna Nwosu). Murray’s average time to throw of 2.37 seconds was his fourth-fastest mark of his career,” according to Next Gen Stats.
This amount of pressure still not shutting down opponents in clutch situations indicates there are problems elsewhere across Macdonald’s defense. Perhaps on the back end, where a Pro Bowl cornerback isn’t playing up to standard.
Whatever the problem, Macdonald and Durde need a fix before this not-insignificant flaw costs the Seahaws in key moments this season.