Mike Macdonald apologizes to Sean Payton for past story on cheating dispute

Elizabeth Flores, USA TODAYThu, September 24, 2026 at 12:29 PM UTC

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Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has publicly apologized for remarks he made regarding a past dispute with Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton, describing the episode as a "lesson learned."

Macdonald addressed the situation during an appearance on “In Depth With Graham Bensinger,” referencing a 2024 dispute with Payton. He explained that his comments were never intended for public consumption, but they quickly gained traction on the social media platform X.

The dispute centered on Payton’s 2024 accusation that the Seahawks had cheated while preparing for the season opener against the Broncos. According to Macdonald, Denver mistakenly believed that Seattle had sent someone to the Broncos’ training camp to secretly film and relay plays. In reality, Macdonald clarified, the Seahawks’ coaching staff gained insights from footage posted by fans who attended the Broncos’ open practices and shared plays publicly on the social media platform X.

Payton confirmed that Macdonald reached out early in the week to apologize.

Payton assured him there were no hard feelings, emphasizing that he understood how speaking about past events can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. He reiterated his respect for Macdonald, stating he had "a ton of respect" for the Seahawks coach.

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"I've got to be better in that moment (in) understanding, look, I'm responsible for what I say really no matter the circumstance, whether you're miked up, whether you're not, whether you have a certain understanding," Macdonald said when speaking to reporters. "So, I fell short in that moment. It stings for me, frankly, but it's something I'm definitely going to learn from, and it's just a good example of (how) we've got to take responsibility for the things that we say."

More: Mike Macdonald explains how Seahawks used social media to scout Broncos in 2024

Although the incident brought up past tensions, Macdonald emphasized that he and Payton are on good terms after their conversation and that both are ready to move forward.

"I'll say, I have a great deal of respect for him and his program," Macdonald said. "He's a phenomenal football coach. It’s been great getting to know him at the owners’ meetings over the past couple of years. He’s been awesome."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Macdonald apologizes to Sean Payton for past story on cheating dispute

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