Mike Macdonald just solidified his place among his division coaching rivals

The NFL is chock full of younger head coaches with high ceilings and high potential, and Mike Macdonald just passed through the barrier of elite coaching status. In just his second year as the leading man for the Seattle Seahawks, Macdonald is already a Super Bowl-winning coach, and he hasn't even hit his ceiling yet. 

Macdonald went 10-7 in his first year with Geno Smith at quarterback, but the Seahawks missed the playoffs despite the winning record and finishing second in their division. His second year, however, played out much differently, this time with Sam Darnold running the show under center. 

Macdonald, a defensive-minded coach, went 14-3, with the league's best defense (I think it's high time we call it like it is, now) and the most complete roster from top to bottom across the league. Now that he's a Super Bowl-winning coach, it's time he be considered on par with his division rivals, who happen to be two of the top coaches in the NFL today.

Seattle Seahawks' Mike Macdonald is officially on the level of Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan

Sean McVay might be the best coach in the league. He's certainly one of the brightest, creative, innovative, and intelligent coaching minds the NFL has around right now. McVay took over for the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, where he established his greatness immediately, becoming the youngest head coach in modern NFL history.

Subsequently, he led the Rams to two Super Bowl appearances, losing the first with Jared Goff at quarterback, but winning the second with Matthew Stafford in 2021. But McVay isn't the only great, younger mind around, because Kyle Shanahan is right there with McVay in San Francisco.

Shanahan has also been to two Super Bowls, but that's where the differences between him and McVay depart — Shanahan hasn't won one yet, but he has come close with the 49ers twice. Both McVay and Shanahan coach in the NFC West, one of the toughest, if not the toughest division in football. Now, Macdonald can count himself in the group with his division rivals. 

Macdonald might be the best of the trio when it comes to defense. He’s the first Super Bowl champion head coach to be the team’s primary defensive play-caller. Didn't Bill Belichick run the New England Patriots' defense during their dynasty run?

That's a fair assumption given the legendary coach's defensive brilliance. But Belichick, while his teams were heavily influenced by his defensive mind, always had capable defensive coordinators calling games. 

Macdonald is the first head coach to be the primary play caller on defense. Arden Durde deserves a lot of credit for the work he's done, but Macdonald was the final decision maker. Macdonald's defensive schemes caused so many mismatches throughout the season that most opponents didn't know how to break through. 

Coincidentally, only the Rams (along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) were able to muster 22 offensive points or more against the Seahawks this season. Then, his final masterpiece to cap off the season was shutting the door on the Patriots, en route to a Super Bowl. 

Macdonald was already brilliant, but he's now made his mark in the NFL as a Super Bowl-winning coach, putting him in elite status alongside his NFC division coaching rivals.

He's right where he belongs, among the best of the best, and it should be no surprise if he continues on the trajectory that has McVay and Shanahan where they are today, with much success and widespread respect around the league for their innovation and brilliance.