Macdonald's Payton remarks were meant to stay private, report says

A newly released interview excerpt about a 2024 rift with Sean Payton was not intended for public release, according to a report.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is at the center of a controversy after an excerpt from his interview with Graham Bensinger surfaced Tuesday. The footage relates to a dispute that emerged over the Seahawks' use of fan-generated video from Denver Broncos training-camp practices.

Macdonald's first win as a head coach came against Sean Payton and the Broncos in September 2024. According to a Yahoo Sports report, the conversation in question was not intended for public consumption, and the Seahawks reportedly did not know that portion of the discussion had been recorded until Tuesday morning.

The report notes that Bensinger's team did not break any journalistic rules by publishing the material. Still, some around the league questioned why Macdonald chose to revisit grievances from two years earlier, with one unaffiliated source calling it "reckless."

The Broncos declined to comment. Payton is expected to address the matter at his usual Wednesday press conference.

The two teams are scheduled to meet in a Week 6 Thursday night game, which now carries added tension.