OTL: Mike MacDonald, Super Bowl Champion (Breathe, Ravens Fans)

Top o’ the morning, Ravens Flock. As we continue to stare out onto Ice Planet Hoth, which descended upon the Mid-Atlantic Region two weeks ago and shows no signs of lifting, at least we can now say that it’s officially the NFL offseason, with Super Bowl LX now in the rear view.

For the second straight year, the Big Game was a bit of a Big Dud, but still a fun watch for those of us who don’t mind watching AFC squads who aren’t the Baltimore Ravens get skulldragged. Last year, it was the Philadelphia Eagles humbling Patrick Mahomes‘ Chiefs thanks in large part to a dominant four-man pass rush. This time around, the Seattle Seahawks completely embarrassed MVP runner-up (LOL) Drake Maye and the New England Patriots offense thanks in large part to…stop me if you’ve heard this one before…a dominant four-man pass rush!

And now we’re World Champions. pic.twitter.com/qovrJvfGlA

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) February 9, 2026

Of course, that wasn’t all the Philly nor Seattle defenses boasted – far from it – but their engines were largely powered by the guys up front, heavies who can both stop the run and get after the passer. Watching the Eagles do it last year apparently wasn’t enough of an impetus for the Baltimore front office and previous coaching staff to stop trying to build a defense from the back forward; maybe the second time’s the charm? Maybe seeing it again combined with a brand new coaching staff results in the kind of philosophical changes in team-building that much of the Flock has been begging for?

Time will tell. For now, we can only sit back and think about what could have been.

Regarding what could have been…hopefully this doesn’t make you bring up your breakfast, but…

I’ll never forgive the Ravens for this pic.twitter.com/XRlcbEePmi

— Daniel (@DanHammer13) February 9, 2026

The 2023 Ravens remain the only team to finish with the top DVOA in both offense and defense and not win the Super Bowl (or even make it, for that matter), as the Seahawks completed that feat for the second time in the history of their franchise. ISN’T THAT FUN?! ARE WE HAVING FUN?!

(deep breaths)

Moving on, as we consider what-ifs, we of course have to mention the man in charge of that 2023 Ravens defense, the guy at the helm of the now-World Champs, who has reached the mountaintop in just his second year on the job: Mike MacDonald.

A hearty congratulations to Mike from Ravens Flock! That’s surely the only sentiment we in purple camo feel today, right?

Understandably, much of Ravens social media was very much in their feels last night watching Mike Mac hoist the Lombardi Trophy, as so many of us wanted him to take over in Baltimore two years ago following the 2023 AFC Championship Game loss, when he instead bolted to the Pacific northwest. This has been said plenty of times, so we won’t dwell on it, but a gentle reminder seems appropriate:

There was just no scenario in which Mike could have taken over as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens two years ago. It stinks, but it’s reality. Why? Briefly, because we now know two things that we didn’t know after the AFCCG loss (though we suspected at least one):

1. John wants to coach forever.

2. Someone will pay him a ridiculous amount of money to do so.

Those two things being true, in what world does John take a gigantic pay cut to “move upstairs” (as many, including myself, were hoping) to some made up position where he basically just hangs out at The Castle all day?

That leaves firing him.

The HarBros basically gave Mike Mac his career. He’s going to stay on as your head coach after you fired John following a #1 seed and AFCCG appearance? Unlikely.

It’s getting kinda sad. All they want — with the benefit of hindsight of course — is a completely unprecedented transition in NFL history where a HC gets fired for going to the conference title game but not his staff.

— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) February 9, 2026

I know it’s hard. I share your frustrations, believe me. But we all need to move on. It’s a new era in Baltimore, and hopefully Jesse Minter – whose career is quite similar to MacDonald’s (including getting NFL starts in Baltimore, being DC at Michigan, and then DC in the NFL for two seasons), though he’s actually a few years older – has the same kind of success Mike Mac has thus far.

As for Minter, he continues to build his staff. Cole updates his nifty graphic for us here:

Pre-Super Bowl Update.

WR Coach & ST Coordinator remaining.

I would also anticipate another ST Coach that specializes in the coverage units to be added as well.

If I had to guess? Tyler Tettleton, Anthony Levine and Tom Quinn fill out the coaching staff.#RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/qrYfGhyarL

— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) February 8, 2026

One notable change last week was QB Coach Tee Martin being replaced by Israel Woolfork. Many thought Martin might hang around, as he’s worked with Lamar Jackson for three seasons in the role. Woolfork, 36, comes to the Ravens from Arizona, where he held the same position for three years.

We’ll leave you today with the latest we heard over the weekend on Jackson’s input in the Ravens’ coaching search and pending contract extension:

The Insiders on @NFLGameDay with @TomPelissero, @MikeGarafolo, and @JudyBattista: Aaron Rodgers seriously considering returning to the #Steelers; Lamar Jackson and #Ravens set to work out an extension; #Rams QB Matthew Stafford could get a raise; HOF eyes major voting changes. pic.twitter.com/VHhcGwV8m4

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 8, 2026

Jackson had plenty of input in the hiring of Jesse Minter and Declan Doyle, and “folks would be flabbergasted if the Ravens move on from Lamar Jackson.” Sorry Mike Florio. That extension notification is gonna hit like a 50-degree day would right about now…

Also in there: Aaron Rodgers is getting more likely to return to Pittsburgh. How wonderful. Now that John’s gone, here’s to the Ravens atoning for their embarrassing status as the only AFC North team to lose to A-A-Ron twice in 2025.

Now let’s go enjoy some Winter Olympics and hope our yards stop looking like a good site for figure skating and bobsled ASAP!

The post OTL: Mike MacDonald, Super Bowl Champion (Breathe, Ravens Fans) appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/02/09/out-to-lunch/mike-macdonald-champ/