Mike Macdonald's Response to Not Winning Coach of the Year: A Tale of Unrecognized Excellence
Mike Macdonald, the fourth-youngest head coach to ever win a Super Bowl, had a brilliant response when he didn't win the Coach of the Year award at the NFL Honors during Super Bowl week. While he didn't secure the coveted Coach of the Year title, he did win the Lombardi Trophy, a more significant achievement in terms of career milestones.
At the Seahawks' Super Bowl celebration, former Seahawk and longtime radio play-by-play voice Steve Raible introduced Macdonald as someone who "should've been recognized as NFL Coach of the Year." As Coach Macdonald took the podium, he delivered a mic-dropping response before he could even begin his speech.
"I think I'll take this trophy instead," Macdonald said, gesturing to the Lombardi Trophy. This witty remark highlighted his belief that the actual championship trophy is a more significant recognition of his achievements.
The Coach of the Year award went to New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, while Assistant Coach of the Year went to Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Macdonald finished third in the voting behind Vrabel and Liam Coen of the Jacksonville Jaguars. While the Patriots and Jaguars turned their seasons around from 4-13 disasters to division champions, the Seahawks were the NFL's best team, a fact that has historically been a reason for awarding Coach of the Year. However, it seems that Seattle exceeding its own low preseason expectations wasn't enough to sway the voters.
The last time a Seahawks coach won Coach of the Year was Chuck Knox in 1984, when Seattle built on its surprise AFC Championship run in 1983 by finishing 12-4 the following year. Unfortunately, they were eliminated in the Divisional Round. Mike Holmgren, Pete Carroll, and now Macdonald have all led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl appearance, yet none have received the extra AP NFL award.
Despite not winning the Coach of the Year award, Macdonald's leadership and success with the Seahawks are undeniable. He expressed his gratitude to the fans, saying, "We love the 12s. You guys are the best in the world, and now we’re the best football team in the world. World champs!" This sentiment resonates with fans and highlights the team's achievements.
In the hearts of many, Macdonald is already the Coach of the Year. And with the Lombardi Trophy in hand, he is undoubtedly a Super Bowl champion, too.
