If there’s one group of people that doesn’t need to be reminded how special head coach Mike McDonald is, it’s Seattle Seahawks fans. In the span of two years, they watched McDonald transform their declining defense into one of the best ever in the league and take home a second Lombardi Trophy.
But just in case anyone might need a reminder…or if people are looking for more ammunition when talking to friends/rival fans…here’s another one: Mike Macdonald is officially tied with Jim Harbaugh and Steve Mariucci for the most wins by a head coach in his first two years as a head coach.
What’s interesting when looking at the first two years of these three is that they seem to be opposites of each other. Harbaugh and Mariucci both performed well during their tenures as 49ers head coaches. Mariucci finished a 13-3 season in the Bay Area but lost at home in the NFC Championship Game, then went 12-4 on the season but was eliminated in the divisional round a week ago. Likewise, Jim Harbaugh went 13-3 in his first season in San Francisco but lost at home in the NFCCG. Harbaugh’s second season was more successful, going 11-4-1 and reaching the Super Bowl, where he lost to the Baltimore Ravens.
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As for Mike Macdonald, he didn’t enjoy a lofty season at the No. 1 seed level initially. His Seahawks finished with a 10-7 record and narrowly missed the playoffs in Game 5. However, McDonald clearly excelled in his second year, finishing with a 17-3 overall record and a Super Bowl LX victory, winning No. 27.
The Seahawks’ 2025-2026 season is determined by many factors, chief among them solidifying clear and undeniable ownership of the rival 49ers for the remainder of the season. As if knocking out the 49ers in humiliating fashion and winning the Super Bowl in their own stadium wasn’t enough… now Mike McDonald is stealing some of the shine from both of their former head coaches, too.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks history: Mike Macdonald ties rare NFL head coaching record