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Who are the youngest NFL head coaches after Seahawks hire Mike Macdonald?

Baltimore Ravens new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald answers questions during an NFL football news conference, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Owings Mills, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Baltimore Ravens new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald answers questions during an NFL football news conference, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Owings Mills, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is the new coach of the Seattle Seahawks. At 36 years old, he now is the NFL's youngest head coach. How young is he compared to the NFL's other head coaches?

Exactly half of the 32 NFL teams currently employ a coach younger than 45 years old. After Bill Belichick and former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll ended their head coaching stints earlier this month, no head coach is older than the Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Reid, who is 65.

The Seahawks' change, much like the New England Patriots', is a drastic one. Just weeks ago, those two teams still employed the NFL's two oldest coaches. New England head coach Jerod Mayo had the title of "NFL's youngest head coach" for all of 19 days. Now, he and Macdonald are expected to be the two youngest head coaches in the NFL at the start of the 2024 season.

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Youngest head coaches in the NFL in 2024

These are the 10 youngest head coaches in the NFL heading into the 2024 season, ranked from youngest to oldest.

  1. Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks, 36 years old

  2. Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots, 37

  3. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams, 37

  4. Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings, 38

  5. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts, 38

  6. Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans, 39

  7. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans, 39

  8. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals, 40

  9. Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins, 40

  10. Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals, 41

Youngest head coaches in NFL history (at time of hiring)

These are the 10 youngest head coaches in NFL history, ranked from youngest to oldest by their age at the time of hiring.

  1. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams (30 years, 11 months)

  2. Lane Kiffin, Oakland Raiders (31 years, 8 months)

  3. Harland Svare, Los Angeles Rams (31 years, 11 months)

  4. John Michelosen, Pittsburgh Steelers (32 years, 2 months)

  5. Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (32 years, 4 months)

  6. David Shula, Cincinnati Bengals (32 years, 7 months)

  7. Josh McDaniels, Denver Broncos (32 years, 8 months)

  8. John Madden, Oakland Raiders (32 years, 10 months)

  9. Don Shula, Baltimore Colts (33 years, 4 days)

  10. Al Davis, Oakland Raiders (33 years, 6 months)

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seahawks: Mike Macdonald's age will make him youngest NFL head coach