For most NFL coaches, the pressure leading up to the Super Bowl can be overwhelming. But Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald says the peace that carried him through the biggest game of his career didn’t come from confidence in his game plan—it came from confidence in Christ.

Fresh off leading the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl championship in more than a decade, Macdonald is opening up about the faith that has become the foundation of both his coaching and his life.

Speaking on the Sports Spectrum Podcast, Macdonald said his relationship with Jesus is stronger than ever.

“He’s my Lord and Savior,” he said. “My faith right now is probably as strong as it’s ever been. … I’m confident it’s not because we’ve won – [but] it’s because of the people we’ve been around and where they’ve led me with Him.”

Macdonald’s second season in Seattle was nothing short of remarkable. After inheriting a team that had missed the playoffs in two of the previous three years, he led the Seahawks to the best regular season in franchise history before capturing the Lombardi Trophy. Yet he says winning isn’t what ultimately defines success.

“Are we chasing hardware? Or are we chasing the relationships and the people and our community and bringing people together?” he asked. “It’s pretty obvious on what He wants from us at that point.”

Macdonald shared that he first developed a relationship with Christ in high school through student pastor Darren Youngstrom. But as his coaching career accelerated, his priorities gradually shifted.

“When I started coaching, my faith wavered a little bit,” he admitted.

He credits his wife, Stephanie, with encouraging him to return to church and helping him make Christ the center of their lives again.

“He never left,” Macdonald said of Jesus. “He’s just right there waiting for me to come back.”

The coach also pointed to two influential mentors—former Georgia head coach Mark Richt and Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh—as examples of leaders who demonstrated that faith and excellence can go hand in hand.

As the Seahawks prepared for Super Bowl LX against New England, Macdonald admitted he battled anxiety like anyone else facing the biggest stage in sports. But a sermon from Youngstrom reminded him that the outcome ultimately belonged to God.

That message was reinforced unexpectedly when Seahawks general manager John Schneider placed a miniature Jesus figurine on Macdonald’s desk before the game.

“When I came back in, it’s just sitting there… Jesus just standing there, staring at me,” Macdonald recalled with a laugh.

The simple reminder helped shift his perspective.

“It’s not in your control. You’ve done all the things you need to do,” he said. “Have faith in the process. Win or lose, it’s part of His vision for you.”

For Macdonald, the greatest victory isn’t a championship ring but the peace that comes from trusting Christ, regardless of the final score.