Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is getting national love for one of his boldest decisions yet. In a new report, NFL insider Diana Russini relays that a high-ranking AFC source says the Seahawks “are primed for a Super Bowl”and specifically credits Macdonald for firing offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and turning the offense over to Klint Kubiak ahead of Sunday’s massive Week 11 showdown with the Rams.
According to Russini’s report, the source says Macdonald “deserves credit for pulling the plug at OC,” adding that Kubiak has elevated Seattle’s attack. With Sam Darnold replacing Geno Smith and Kubiak redesigning the playbook, the Seahawks have gone from question mark to NFC heavyweight just in time for what might be the biggest game of the season in the conference.
Diana Russini: Mike Macdonald ‘Deserves Credit’ for Seahawks’ OC Shake-Up
Russini’s story frames Week 11 as a turning point in the NFC West, with both the Rams and Seahawks sitting at 7-2 and playing as well as anyone in the league. An AFC source tells her the Rams “are primed for a Super Bowl,” but quickly adds that the same is true for Seattle, setting up Sunday’s meeting as more than just a divisional game — it’s a potential Super Bowl preview.
The report highlights Seattle’s “bold moves” as a central part of that story. Macdonald moved on from Grubb after just one season, then hired Kubiak from the New Orleans Saints to run a more physical, run-friendly system that matched his overall vision for the team.
That change at coordinator came alongside an even bigger swing at quarterback. Seattle let Smith go and signed Darnold to a three-year deal after his breakout season with the Minnesota Vikings, betting that a younger, high-ceiling passer would fit better in the revamped offense.
Early in the season, there were growing pains in Kubiak’s scheme. But as the calendar turned toward midseason, the results started to match the ambition. The Seahawks have ripped off four straight wins to climb to 7-2 and pull even with the Rams atop the NFC West, including a 44-22 blowout of the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10 that showcased explosive plays on the ground and through the air.
Russini’s source zeroes in on Macdonald’s willingness to act quickly. Firing Grubb after one year, hiring a new play-caller, reshaping the staff and turning the offense over to Darnold were all risks. Now that the Seahawks are rolling into SoFi Stadium with one of the NFL’s most dangerous offenses, that same AFC evaluator believes the head coach deserves a big share of the credit.
What Mike Macdonald’s OC Gamble Means for Seahawks vs. Rams
Macdonald was hired in Seattle with a defensive reputation after building elite units with the Baltimore Ravens, but the way he’s managed the offense might end up defining this season. Under Grubb in 2024, the Seahawks finished near the bottom of the league in rushing and outside the top tier in scoring, one reason the team narrowly missed the playoffs and chose to reset on that side of the ball.
With Kubiak calling plays, the early returns are very different. Seattle’s offense has climbed into the league’s upper tier in both points and yards, and the team has leaned into a more balanced identity that marries a physical ground game with shot plays to rising star Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Darnold’s efficiency is a big part of that story. The former No. 3 overall pick has thrown for more than 2,200 yards with 17 touchdowns and only six interceptions so far this season, ranking near the top of the league in QBR while operating Kubiak’s system. Seattle has built big early leads in recent weeks and forced defenses to defend the entire field instead of sitting on short throws.
On the other side of the ball, Macdonald’s calling card still shows. The Seahawks enter Week 11 with one of the stingiest run defenses in the NFL, allowing fewer than four yards per carry and going more than a full season without allowing a 100-yard rusher. They’re also among the league leaders in sacks and pressure rate despite blitzing less than most teams, a sign of how well the front four is winning up front.
Put together, that formula is exactly what Macdonald had in mind when he made the OC switch: a physical, explosive offense paired with a fast, suffocating defense. Against a Rams team led by an MVP-level Matthew Stafford and a top-five scoring attack, it’s the only way to survive. Stafford has thrown 25 touchdown passes against just two interceptions this season and is in the middle of a historic stretch with no picks in his last six games.
If Seattle is going to steal a road win at SoFi and grab first place in the division, Macdonald will need Kubiak’s offense to keep pace — and his defense to do something few teams have managed lately: knock Stafford out of his comfort zone.
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