INDIANAPOLIS— Though he's still not rewatched the Super Bowl and is looking forward to a vacation in Hawaii soon, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald had to turn his attention to the NFL Scouting Combine this week.
"Trust me, it's easier than you think," Macdonald said. "You have to hire a staff, and time waits on nobody, and we had to go. 'Hey, you're flying to the combine on Monday.' It's just these daily things you have to hit, and those are the things you're focused on, just being completely honest."
At the combine, Macdonald, alongside scouts and other coaches, is evaluating players and figuring out which prospects would be a good fit to become a Seahawk. And on Wednesday morning before his media obligations, that's exactly what he was doing. Macdonald sat inside a suite at Lucas Oil Stadium taking notes on the prospects they were meeting with.
These face-to-face interactions help Macdonald, the coaches, and scouting staff decide who has “Seahawks DNA.”
"It's an extra data point that we can help contribute to the whole kind of equation," he said. "It's just an opportunity for us to get to know these guys. We're entering the evaluation timeline. Basically, the 11th hour. But our coaches' opinions, I know John (Schneider) really wants to know them, and I do, too, and it's just going to help us create a better picture of who we want to add to our team."
And Seattle, who built a well-connected and very close locker room culture this season, has a point of reference for the kinds of players who would fit into their locker room.
"I think we've laid a solid foundation," Macdonald said. "But I think something that we have to do a great job of is evolving and not being complacent on what we've been able to build, and these things are so fragile. You have to take care of it. You have to attack it every day. The culture has got to come to life every day in how you do things. And so we can't just be resting on our laurels and saying, 'We're sweet, because we created a good culture in a year.' We have to keep building this thing."
And though that foundation will be at the very core they will still be that version of the Seahawks they created in 2025, they will morph into a newer version of that under new Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury.
"We're going to be the Seattle Seahawks, and we're going to have a different evolution of our offense," Macdonald said. "And it's going to be built on the same principles, but how it comes to life, and the exact plays that we're going to run, I can't answer that yet. I don't know the answer to that, but I know how Brian's going to operate, and our offensive staff's going to operate, and I'm really excited to see how they make this thing come to life. And so it's going to be a fun process to be a part of and sharpen each other as we start to get into some of the competitive periods and, again, we're going back through the process, so we're back at kind of stage one now, and we have to be disciplined enough to stick to our steps and our process, and trust that the results are going to be aligned with how we visualize our team being."
That process won't begin for the players until they return for offseason workouts and minicamp from their vacations and offseason break.
Right now the emphasis for players is on rest and recovery.
"Get away and go get your body right, get your mental right, spend time with your friends and family," Macdonald said. "And then have a great plan for coming back for the offseason… The principles of how we're going to operate is we want to nail the daily goals, and the daily standard about what we're trying to achieve and to become a championship team again. And it's really going to be that simple. How we build the offseason program, what we do on a daily basis, you know, that's going to look a little bit different for a variety of reasons, but how we do our business, how we integrate, how we interact with each other, how we attack schematically, how we put things together, all those things, that'll stay the same."
He added, "I think the more important thing is just having a plan for what you want to achieve in the offseason. So, people's timetables are a little different. Some people will prefer to take a little bit less of a break and get their bodies back going. Some people need to get away. What's best for them? And the most important part is their kind of mental stage, and where their bodies are at, as we start our offseason programs. But it's definitely important to get away and get refreshed."
The NFL Combine gives the nation's best draft prospects an opportunity to showcase their talents ahead of the NFL Draft. Check out some of the best photos of current Seahawks players at the NFL Combine.
Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III (32) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III (32) participates in the broad jump at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III (32) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III (32) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mississippi State offensive lineman Charles Cross jumps before he runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mississippi State offensive lineman Charles Cross runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
FILE - Mississippi State offensive lineman Charles Cross runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. Charles Cross is a possible pick in the NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Mississippi State offensive lineman Charles Cross (06) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Mississippi State offensive lineman Charles Cross runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Washington State offensive lineman Abraham Lucas (30) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Washington State offensive lineman Abraham Lucas runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Washington State offensive lineman Abraham Lucas runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Washington State offensive lineman Abraham Lucas (30) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Washington State offensive lineman Abraham Lucas (30) participates in the broad jump at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams runs a drill during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, February 22, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams jumps before running the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UTSA defensive back Tariq Woolen runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
UTSA defensive back Tariq Woolen runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTSA defensive back Tariq Woolen runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTSA defensive back Tariq Woolen participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
UTSA defensive back Tariq Woolen runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Purdue offensive lineman Marcus Mbow, left, and North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel lifts weights at the NFL football scouting combine Monday, March 3, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan tight end AJ Barner runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori lifts weights at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Michigan tight end AJ Barner runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan tight end AJ Barner runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold runs a drill during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold participates in the broad jump during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold participates in the broad jump during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold (5) with the quarterbacks during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold looks on during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
USC quarterback Sam Darnold runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold is seen at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp is seen in a drill at the 2017 NFL football scouting combine Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
