Meanwhile, the journey back to Saturday’s venue of Santa Clara, California, for the Super Bowl, now goes through Seattle, with the Seahawks having upped their odds of a return trip as history bodes well for the franchise in this scenario.
This is the fourth time in team history that Seattle has clinched the No. 1 seed, and in each of the previous three instances, they’ve advanced to the Super Bowl (2005 season under Mike Holmgren; 2013-14 seasons under Pete Carroll).
Macdonald, in his second season after replacing Carroll, will aim to be the third head coach to pilot the Seahawks on a Super Bowl run and join his predecessor as the only coaches to win a Lombardi Trophy for the franchise.
Macdonald’s Seahawks set a franchise record for wins in a season with their 14th on Saturday and have emerged from what is widely considered as the league’s toughest division — the NFC West — with the title.
“I’m really proud of our team,” Macdonald said. “They love each other, man. It is so much fun to go to work every day and coach this team. It is an absolute honor to coach these guys.”
Now, it’s up to quarterback Sam Darnold, Pro Bowl wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a talent-laden defense to rest up on the bye and then vie for the club’s first playoff win since a 2019 wild-card triumph against the Philadelphia Eagles.
A new NFC heavyweight has materialized in the 2025 season, with the Seahawks ensuring the road to the Super Bowl will go through the Pacific Northwest.