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.
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.
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.
Indeed, Bo Melton has officially made the switch. After two seasons playing the wide receiver position, Melton will be taking the field in the 2025 NFL regular season as part of the Green Bay Packers’ secondary.
Melton got the good news on Tuesday that he’s made the Packers’ initial 53-man roster, this time as a cornerback. Melton only transitioned into the CB position just this offseason, and while there’s still plenty for him to learn in his new role, Green Bay saw enough promise in him to include the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football program product in the final cut.
Taken by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round as the 229th pick overall in the 2022 NFL draft, Melton made his debut in the league in 2023, when he was already with the Packers.
In five games that season, he recorded 218 receiving yards and a touchdown on 16 receptions and 24 targets. In 2024, he spent most of his time on the field as part of the Packers’ special teams, while coming up with just 91 receiving yards on eight catches and 17 targets through 17 games.
On Tuesday, the 26-year-old Melton shared a social media post on Instagram that shows a picture of him in action on the field. He also wrote “Bles16ed” and “AGTG” as captions.
Melton will use the opportunity he earned to prove that he can be a valuable asset for the Packers’ defense that is entering its second year under the direction of defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Last season, the Packers were third in the league overall with 17 defensive interceptions.