The Seattle Seahawks have reached an agreement with Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to become the team's next head coach, NFL.com reported Wednesday.

Macdonald, who helped the Ravens to an NFL-best 13-4 record during the regular season and an appearance in the AFC championship game, will reportedly receive a six-year contract to take over a Seattle team that went 9-8 in 2023 but just missed the playoffs over long-time predecessor Pete Carroll. 

The Seahawks parted ways with Carroll earlier this month, which marked the end of an outstanding 14-year run that included 10 post-season appearances and the franchise's only Super Bowl title during the 2013 season.

Macdonald, 36, becomes the youngest current active head coach and will be replacing the oldest one in Carroll, who turned 72 in September.

The Seahawks' decision culminates a meteoric rise through the coaching ranks for Macdonald, who spent two seasons as the Ravens' defensive coordinator under John Harbaugh after serving one year in the same role at the University of Michigan for Harbaugh's brother, Jim. 

Macdonald quickly assembled one of the league's fiercest defences in Baltimore, where he previously spent six seasons as an assistant from 2014-20 before joining the recently named Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh at Michigan.

The Ravens allowed the third-fewest points in the NFL in 2022 and were even better this past season, as Macdonald's unit yielded a league-low 16.5 points per game and topped the NFL with 60 sacks. 

Sources: The #Seahawks are set to hire #Ravens DC Mike Macdonald as their new head coach. Seattle was willing to wait for him if Baltimore made the Super Bowl.

Instead, their season ended last week and he takes a big-time job. He’s currently in Seattle on a 2nd interview. pic.twitter.com/9iusq8zYOe

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 31, 2024

Defence was a problem for the 2023 Seahawks, who ranked 30th of the NFL's 32 teams in total yards allowed and 25th in points allowed. Seattle was 8-2 when surrendering 27 points or fewer but went 1-6 when permitting 28 or more.

The Seahawks were one of two teams - along with the Washington Commanders - that had not filled a head coaching vacancy when conference championship games were taking place this past weekend.

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was considered a top candidate for the jobs in Seattle and Washington, which has yet to complete its search, before informing both teams on Tuesday that he will remain in his current position.