New Seattle Seahawks head coach opens up on ‘tough’ quarterback decisions

A new era is underway in Seattle after Pete Carrol’s 14-year reign as Seahawks head coach came to a close at the end of the season.

Replacing the 72-year-old this season will be former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator coach Mike Macdonald, who at 36-years-old becomes the youngest head coach in the NFL.

But as well as seeing a new man on the sideline, could there also be a change under centre at Lumen Field?

Gino Smith has been the Seahawks starting quarterback for the past two seasons, winning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 2022. He was backed up by Drew Lock last season, who put in an eye-catching performance deputising for Smith in a Week 15 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Macdonald was asked if the two QBs were both going to be involved moving forward and his answer suggested that decisions are yet to be made at the quarterback position.

“That’s a tough question, and it’s one that I probably can’t answer right now,” Macdonald told KCPQ.

“We’re doing a lot of work on those guys, and I’ve had conversations just to get to know them, and understand who they are as people and their background, goals, what their family’s like, where they’re from. I didn’t know anything about them coming into this whole thing

“Right now we’re in the phase of figuring out who they are. Obviously one or two or both would fit into our plan going forward, but right now we probably don’t have that answer for you.”

The Seahawks earned a 9-8 record last season which saw them finish third in the NFC West. Smith’s solid but unspectacular season saw him fail to match his 2022 form and recently restructured his contract, which would indicate he is likely to remain in Seattle, while Lock will be a free agent next month.