Mike Macdonald had already shown the Seattle Seahawks organization and its loyal fans that he was the head coach of the future after last year, his first in the driver's seat. He coached the Seahawks to a 10-7 record with Geno Smith under center, whom the team eventually moved on from in the offseason.
In stepped Sam Darnold, fresh off a 14-win campaign with the Minnesota Vikings, whom they decided to move on from during the offseason. Seattle picked the journeyman quarterback up, and Macdonald was forced to figure out a way to make Darnold better than he was in Minnesota.