RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Wednesday that he called Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton and apologized after a video of Macdonald describing a 2024 cheating accusation from Payton went viral Tuesday.
The video came from Macdonald’s appearance on “In Depth With Graham Bensinger.” In it, Macdonald said the Broncos wrongfully accused Seattle of cheating in its preparation for the 2024 season opener. He also said Payton backed off after the Seahawks threatened a lawsuit if Denver went public with the allegation.
Speaking with reporters Wednesday, Macdonald said the comments were “something that I didn’t intend for public use.” He did not believe cameras were rolling when he told the story, though he said that was not the important part and that “it’s fair to say if I’m talking, I’m responsible for what I’m saying.” Macdonald declined to get into how the segment became public.
“I thought it was the most appropriate thing to reach out to Sean and really just apologize to him for having that be public where it wasn’t meant to,” Macdonald said.
Macdonald said he appreciated how Payton handled the call. The two have gotten to know each other over the past two years at league meetings, and Macdonald has tremendous respect for him.
“It’s a lesson learned, honestly,” Macdonald explained. “I’ve got to be better in that moment for understanding I’m responsible for what I say no matter the circumstance. Whether you’re mic’ed up, whether you’re not, it’s a certain type of understanding, and I fell short in that moment.”
“It stings for me, frankly, but it’s something that I’m definitely going to learn from, and it’s just a good example that we’ve got to take responsibility for the things that we say,” Macdonald continued.
What Mike Macdonald Told Graham Bensinger About The 2024 Opener
In the interview, Macdonald said Seattle’s staff found roughly 100 clips of Broncos training camp that fans had posted on X and used them to scout Denver before the opener. Payton referenced Spygate once he found out, according to ProFootballTalk, and Macdonald compared the standoff that followed to a “Cold War.” Seahawks general manager John Schneider was the one who threatened to sue, Macdonald said in the interview, according to OutKick.
The standoff carried into the following offseason. Macdonald said he ran into Payton at his hotel in Indianapolis during the week of the NFL Scouting Combine.
“I was kind of like over him, and he was just like, ‘Hey coach,’ and he totally backed down in that moment,” Macdonald said in the interview. “I was like, ‘Oh, man. That’s great.'”
The excerpt was not among the first clips and quotes released from the interview. On Tuesday, ProFootballTalk reported that the Seahawks did not know that portion of the conversation had been recorded until that morning. The Broncos declined comment Tuesday.
The 2024 Opener And The Oct. 15 Rematch In Denver
The Sept. 8, 2024, opener at Lumen Field was Macdonald’s first game as Seattle’s coach. The Seahawks won 26-20 and held Denver to 231 total yards in Bo Nix‘s NFL debut. Denver had drafted Nix 12th overall that April.
Nix completed 26-of-42 passes for 138 yards with 0 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He added 5 carries for 35 yards and 1 touchdown, a 4-yard run with 2:09 left that pulled the Broncos within 26-20. Seattle ran out the clock on the next possession.
Last season, Macdonald’s second in Seattle, the Seahawks won the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks visit the Broncos on Thursday, Oct. 15, at Empower Field at Mile High for the second meeting between Macdonald and Payton as head coaches. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. CT on Prime Video, and both teams are scheduled to wear throwback uniforms.
