Mike Macdonald recounts "Cold War" with Sean Payton over cheating suspicions during the 2024 season
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald revealed that during his first season in Seattle, the Seahawks used publicly posted fan videos of Broncos practices to prepare for their Week 1 game against Denver.
- After the Seahawks won 26-20, Broncos head coach Sean Payton confronted Seahawks GM John Schneider, threatening a public scandal similar to "Patriot Spygate," believing the Seahawks had cheated.
- Macdonald denied any wrongdoing and warned Payton of legal action if he pursued the accusations, leading Payton to eventually drop the issue.
- The tension between the teams was described by Macdonald as a "Cold War"-like standoff, with both sides threatening to escalate but ultimately refraining.
- Payton and Macdonald later met at the Scouting Combine without addressing the controversy, but Payton is expected to comment on the incident before their Week 6 matchup.
