Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald did not hide his frustration when asked about the NFL’s decision to suspend linebacker Derick Hall, saying he “doesn’t necessarily agree with it” and flatly rejecting the idea that the play involved bad intent.
Macdonald addressed the suspension directly during his Christmas Eve press conference, making his stance clear while also emphasizing the team’s need to move forward without Hall during a pivotal moment of the season.
Seahawks Coach Addresses Derick Hall Suspension
Macdonald said the team accepts the league’s ruling but strongly pushed back on the reasoning behind it.
“These things are tough,” Macdonald said. “We obviously accept what the league did. I don’t necessarily agree with it… I just really refuse to believe there was ill intent in that play.”
The Seahawks coach went on to praise Hall as an “A++ teammate” and “A++ football player,” emphasizing Hall’s reputation inside the building and in the community. According to Macdonald, Hall explained the play as an awkward step-over situation where his heel landed on another player as he was being rolled up on, a detail that left the coach surprised the situation escalated as far as it did.
Despite the disagreement, Macdonald made it clear the Seahawks are not dwelling on the ruling.
“We’ve got to pick it up for him while he’s gone,” he said.
What the Suspension Means for Seattle’s Defense
Hall’s absence forces Seattle to adjust its edge rotation at a time when consistency matters most. Macdonald stressed that the team has already been preparing for adversity, pointing to recent defensive struggles as a reminder that improvement starts internally.
“We gave up a bunch of yards and points last game,” Macdonald admitted. “There’s a lot of not great stuff… but the point is focusing on ourselves in the process rather than the opponent.”
The Seahawks will rely on flexibility and depth rather than panic. Macdonald noted that the defense has already shown it can adjust on the fly, even dipping into what he jokingly called “plan C” when needed.
“What I love about our group is we can move and shake and it’s not a point of panic,” he said.
Bigger Picture: Discipline, Process, and a Playoff Push
Macdonald’s comments weren’t just about one suspension, they reflected how he wants Seattle to operate as the stakes rise.
“You start acting differently based on the circumstances around you, that’s dangerous,” he said, stressing consistency in preparation regardless of pressure.
The Seahawks have already clinched a playoff spot, but Macdonald said that accomplishment hasn’t been a focus inside the building.
“The only thing I told him is we made the playoffs,” he said. “We can’t be sitting around telling how sweet we are.”
Instead, Macdonald emphasized identity, daily habits, and execution, the same approach he believes will carry Seattle through Hall’s absence and into the postseason.
The Seahawks (12-3) face the Carolina Panthers (8-7) on December 28 at 1 p.m. ET, and Seattle can lock up the NFC West — and even the NFC’s No. 1 seed, the lone first-round bye and home-field advantage — with a win plus a Los Angeles Rams loss or tie (plus a San Francisco-Chicago tie). Seattle can also clinch the division with a win plus a Rams loss or tie and a 49ers loss or tie, or with a tie plus Rams loss and 49ers loss.
Seahawks Push Back on NFL Punishment as Coach Breaks Silence After Suspension