The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks are guaranteed to play each other only once every four years.
It's the reality of a rotation-based schedule for two teams in different conferences. However, there is a lot of history between these two clubs – especially recently.
The Seahawks demolished the Broncos in Super Bowl 48. For an encore in 2022, Seattle fleeced Denver in the infamous Russell Wilson trade that helped rebuild the Seahawks into a Super Bowl contender again. There had been a lack of drama between the teams in the years since, who haven't played since Sept. 8, 2024 – another Seahawks' victory.
At least that was until Sept. 22, when a viral moment from an interview with Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald reignited that flame – if it was ever
put out in the first place.
As both sides get set to meet on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 6, it's a reminder of the interesting history between these teams.
Here's a look at the beef between Macdonald and Broncos coach Sean Payton.
Mike Macdonald and Sean Payton beef, explained
The beef with Macdonald and Payton extends back to the last time the Seahawks and Broncos met. The 2024 matchup saw the Seahawks win, 26-20, but it was the way that Seattle won that sparked the controversy.
Macdonald spoke about what happened during an interview with Graham Bensinger that went viral. The coach told a story about how the Seahawks scouted the Broncos through training camp videos posted by fans in 2024.
"We play them our first game," Macdonald said. "Fans will post plays from training camp on Twitter, so it's like public knowledge.
"We took like 100 plays from their training camp."
Macdonald noted that the team used those plays they found on social media to scout the Broncos ahead of their Week 1 matchup in 2024.
Broncos coach Sean Payton caught wind of the situation during the season and, as Macdonald said, threatened to go public with his findings.
"[Payton] called [Seahawks general manager John Schneider] and basically threatened to come out publicly and do a whole Patriots Spygate type of thing. And I'm sitting there like, 'Oh my god, I'm like we didn't cheat.'
"He thought it was a Michigan thing and we had a plant. So we had to counter with him to say, 'Hey look, if you come out with this then we're gonna sue you because it's not true.'"
Macdonald said Payton backed down after that, comparing the situation to the Cold War, with both teams threatening to "push the button."
The coaches have seemed to be on good terms since, but it was unclear what would happen in the aftermath of the story going public.
Mike Macdonald apologizes to Sean Payton
Macdonald reached out to Payton and apologized for his viral comments, noting his comments weren't designed for public consumption.
"It's something that I didn't intend for public use," Macdonald told reporters on Sept. 23. "But I felt like it was the most appropriate thing to reach out to Sean and really just apologize to him."
Payton confirmed the conversation and indicated there was no lingering issue between the coaches.
"We spoke. He and I are good. Lord knows I've been in his position," Payton said on Sept. 23. "It allowed us to figure out how to handle our training camp relative to just videos. I don't think anything was intentional by fans, but at first, you're kind of thinking, ‘How could...' Then we did some research online of what was available, and that's kind of how we changed our policy."
The Broncos have since instituted a strict no-phone policy in the seating area during training camp.
Both coaches seem to have developed an appreciation for each other in the time that has passed, seemingly burying the hatchet on something that will just have to live in the past.
One way or another, this will be the first time that both teams have met since that game. It will be the latest chapter in one of the weirder rivalries of the modern era.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Macdonald and Sean Payton beef, explained: Revisiting 2024 cheating dispute
