Mike Macdonald wasn't happy with the Seahawks' performance in preseason opener

Published August 16, 2026 10:03 AM The Seahawks played their first home game on Saturday night since winning Super Bowl LX. Coach Mike Macdonald was impressed by the turnout from the fans.He was not impressed by the performance of the team.“We owe them a better performance, to say the least,” Macdonald told reporters after the 17-7 loss to the Cowboys. “I just told the team, it’s — we’re gonna learn a lot from this game, whether, you know, take the result out of it. Obviously, it’s disappointing to lose the game any time you run out at anything competitively, we’re trying to win, but right now, our process needs to improve. That’s really the biggest takeaway, is on really in both phases on offense and defense. Our operation is not up to par, and how we’re finishing plays is not up to par. “So that’ll be a focus move forward, but it’s good to know, you know, I’m glad we know now on the things we need to be able to do to take our team to the next level, and we have a great opportunity to go, go figure it out.”What was the specific concern? “Just all the things,” Macdonald said. “How we get calls in, how we take the line, how we motion, how we shift, how we get lined up on defense, how we communicate, all those things need to take a very big jump, very quickly. So it’s good to know. Now we know it, so let’s go get it.”It could make for an interesting third episode of Hard Knocks (the first two haven’t been), depending on how much of Macdonald’s presumably messaging to the team makes it into the final cut — and how much ends up on the cutting room floor.Regardless, getting last year’s players who made it to the top of the mountain ready to understand that another climb will be every bit as difficult if not harder is a constant challenge for the coach of a Super Bowl-winning team. Macdonald, based on Saturday’s game, has plenty of ammunition to get their attention.