MIKE MACDONALD, HEAD COACH
Mike Macdonald, head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, embodies each tenant of the NFL's Salute to Service initiative to honor, empower and connect with service members, veterans and their families. Coach Macdonald honors the military community through a number of engagements. During training camp, he took the entire team and football operations staff on a surprise trip to Joint Base Lewis-McChord to engage with active-duty service members and their families. As coach surprised the team by canceling practice for the offsite visit, he said: "We're trying to beat everybody right, we are trying to be the best in the world. These guys right here, they're the best in the world, and we get to learn from these guys." Coach Macdonald connects the military community to inspire the team and show respect to those who protect our freedom. This season, he invited the U.S. Navy's flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, to practice and to speak to the team. Coach met with the Blue Angels pilots, whose mission it is to showcase the importance of skill and teamwork, to discuss their rigorous training and discipline regimen, and how that relates to success on the football field. Coach Macdonald empowers service members and their families by constantly engaging with them authentically. Whether it's visiting a base with the entire team or meeting with Army Rangers after practice to learn how they operate and apply it to a championship-caliber culture, all while showing them the ultimate respect and support for their sacrifice and service. Coach Macdonald is inspired to respect and honor our service members, veterans, and their families thanks to growing up in a military family himself. His father served in the U.S. Army and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point.