BREAKING NEWS: The reason the Seahawks haven’t conducted an interview with Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is unclear or has not been provided.

In the ongoing search for a new head coach by the Seattle Seahawks, one notable absence from the reported list is Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. Currently, Macdonald is engaged in preparations for the Ravens’ AFC Championship, and despite having interviews with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, and Tennessee Titans, none of whom made it to the postseason, the Seahawks have not initiated discussions with him.

The apparent lack of interest might be misleading, as timing plays a crucial role in this scenario. For instance, the Falcons dismissed Arthur Smith shortly after their regular season finale, while the Chargers, Panthers, and Titans had all parted ways with their head coaches earlier in the season. Pete Carroll’s departure as the Seahawks’ head coach occurred on January 10, and the specific timing of this coaching change may be a determining factor in the absence of an interview with Mike Macdonald.

The Athletic provides an in-depth analysis of the recently adjusted rules for NFL head coaching interviews, shedding light on a crucial regulation for teams on a bye week, such as the Baltimore Ravens. As the AFC’s top seed, the Ravens earned a bye in the wild-card round, allowing virtual interviews to commence three days after Week 18 games, specifically on January 9 or 10. These interviews must be completed before the conclusion of the wild-card games.

Given that the Ravens had a Saturday Week 18 game, the interview process for Mike Macdonald, their defensive coordinator, opened the day before Pete Carroll was formally relieved of his coaching duties by the Seattle Seahawks. However, Seattle didn’t initiate its interview process until January 17. Moreover, teams are prohibited from interviewing assistants from No. 1 seeds during the Divisional Round week, preventing the Seahawks from engaging in discussions with Macdonald.

If the Ravens advance to the Super Bowl, another bye week ensues. However, teams cannot conduct initial interviews with candidates employed by teams participating in the AFC and NFC championship games until the end of the employer team’s season. Second interviews are restricted until January 29, and the candidate’s employer team may not voluntarily grant permission for these interviews.

In essence, for those eager for Mike Macdonald to interview for the Seahawks job, the Ravens would need to lose before further discussions could take place. The Seahawks’ lack of contact with Macdonald can be attributed to the restrictive timing regulations. The only feasible window for an interview was during the wild-card round, making it a waiting game to observe the outcome of the rest of Baltimore’s season.