The Seattle Seahawks have returned to their recently established status as an NFC West powerhouse. Under head coach Mike Macdonald’s guidance, they now sit on the summit, boasting an outstanding 12-3 record. Their stunning play has actually propelled them to the No. 1 seed in the conference. Next up, they’re preparing to head down to Charlotte to play the Carolina Panthers this Sunday. The Seahawks are in pursuit to maintain their playoff positioning. Currently, they are working to set themselves up for a key final regular season home game against the storied San Francisco 49ers—potential No.
During the Mike Macdonald era, massive shifts have occurred. It was a consequential decision for him to hire Jay Harbaugh as special teams coordinator. That has proven to be a shrewd strategic move. Along with assistant special teams coach Devin Fitzsimmons, Harbaugh has helped improve the Seahawks’ special teams unit to the No. 1 ranked unit per ESPN Analytics since Week 10. Their innovative approach has transformed how the team utilizes its special teams, making it a critical component of their overall success.
Both of their marquee wins this season were solidified by the Seahawks’ great special teams, a unit that’s been steadfastly important this season. Seattle ended up with a very close 18-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Jason Myers was the MVP of this game, scoring all of Seattle’s points with six field goals. Rashid Shaheed livened up the crowd with an electrifying 58-yard punt-return touchdown. This truly extraordinary play inspired an unlikely rally to beat the Los Angeles Rams, illustrating the explosive game-changing potential of this team.
“Our special teams unit has just been a massive catalyst for us.” – Mike Macdonald
Witness their outstanding special teams this year, a phase led by Macdonald and Harbaugh, which has combined for four touchdowns this season. One other major highlight was Shaheed’s outstanding 100-yard kickoff return against the Atlanta Falcons. This focus on special teams has not just made them more successful in terms of their overall standing, but boosted the performance of individual players. Shaheed’s preparation came through, as he became a second-time Pro Bowl selection in his short career. This year, he served as the NFC’s return specialist in the Pro Bowl, displaying his unparalleled return ability.
Leonard Williams, arguably the most important player on the defensive line, admitted that he’s aware of the playmaking power that Shaheed possesses. He made it clear just how important special teams was to the team’s success.
“It’s really incredible to see a team be great in all three phases.” – Leonard Williams
Macdonald’s coaching philosophy is heavily centered on finding every possible advantage for his players, utilizing creative strategies to do so. He expressed confidence in Harbaugh’s ability to craft effective game plans tailored to their players’ strengths.
“To me, it’s our responsibility as coaches to give our guys advantages, and Jay [is] as good as anybody about doing that.” – Mike Macdonald
Shaheed praised Harbaugh’s willingness to adapt and be creative, apparent in the new tactics that show up weekly.
“He has a new game plan, it seems, every single week,” – Rashid Shaheed
The Seahawks’ strong run this season illustrates their overall balance — they do well on offense, defense and special teams. As they determine their fateful playoff seedings in one game with their future opponents, this confidence will be critical to their deep playoff aspirations.
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