Seahawks' Macdonald apologizes to Broncos' Payton for comments

RENTON, Wash. -- Calling it a "lesson learned," Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Wednesday that his recently surfaced comments about a 2024 dispute he had with Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton were not meant for public consumption.

Macdonald, speaking to reporters a day after a clip of his comments on "In Depth With Graham Bensinger" began making the rounds on X, said he apologized to Payton

"It's something that I didn't intend for public use," Macdonald said. "But I felt like it was the most appropriate thing to reach out to Sean and really just apologize to him for having that end up be public where it wasn't meant to. It's something that they have to deal with in real time. It wasn't really on their end. So, that's where you're really like, 'Crap.' But it's a lesson learned, honestly."

Payton said Macdonald called him Tuesday night.

"He and I are good,'' Payton said after Wednesday's practice. "Lord knows I've been in his position, you know, you're talking about something. The story is about three years ago.''

Payton added he has "a ton of respect for" Macdonald. 

The dispute related to Payton's 2024 accusation that Seattle cheated while preparing to face the Broncos in that season's opener, which Macdonald revealed during his conversation with Bensinger. In one clip, Macdonald references a mistaken belief on Denver's part that the Seahawks had a "plant" at Broncos training camp who was filming the team's plays, but he said the Seahawks actually saw the plays -- and used them in game prep -- from what fans who had attended open practices had posted to X.

Macdonald's interview with Bensinger took place over the summer and was published on YouTube on Monday. Macdonald answered in the affirmative when asked Wednesday if he made his comments about the Broncos saga while speaking casually with Bensinger, before he thought the cameras were rolling.

'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. "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 we've got to take responsibility for the things that we say."

Asked if he has talked to anyone from Bensinger's show about how the clip got out, Macdonald said, "It's not important on all those details, but it got out."

In a statement, Bensinger said his show provided the Seahawks a copy of the full interview -- including the clip in question -- five days before it was published to YouTube, and that the team did not express any concerns about the clip or ask for it to be removed. According to Bensinger, it is typical for the show to include some pre-interview conversations.

Bensinger said Macdonald called him Tuesday morning and expressed concern over the clip. Bensinger told Macdonald he'd have that portion of the interview removed -- though it had already started to circulate.

"I told Coach that, in hindsight, I regretted allowing that exchange to be included and that it was my error in judgment," Bensinger said. 

Macdonald said Payton was "great" when the two spoke.

"I'll say, I respect the heck out of him and his program," Macdonald said. "He's a phenomenal football coach. It's been great to get to know him at the owners meetings the last couple years. He was awesome.

"I know we're both looking forward to moving forward from it, but I really appreciate how he handled it."

The Seahawks will play at Denver in Week 6.

ESPN's Jeff Legwold contributed to this report.