The Aporia · Mike Macdonald: Sean Payton threatened to accuse Seahawks of spying over video clips

Mike Macdonald: Sean Payton threatened to accuse Seahawks of spying over video clips

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Svoboda, D. (2026, September 22). Mike Macdonald: Sean Payton threatened to accuse Seahawks of spying over video clips. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/09/22/sports/mike-macdonald-sean-payton-threatened-to-accuse-seahawks-of-spying-over-video-clips/

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Quick Summary

During an appearance on "In Depth With Graham Bensinger," Mike Macdonald revealed a dispute from 2024 when Sean Payton accused him and the Seattle Seahawks of cheating. The conflict arose after the Seahawks studied footage from Denver Broncos' training camp posted online, leading to Payton threatening to accuse them of espionage similar to the New England Patriots' Spygate scandal. This led to mutual threats between both teams, with Macdonald stating they were prepared to sue if Payton made false accusations public.

Written by AI on 2026-09-23, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

During an appearance on “In Depth With Graham Bensinger,” Mike Macdonald, coach of the Seattle Seahawks, revealed a conflict with Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos in 2024. Macdonald's team had scouted around 100 plays from the Broncos’ training camp footage that fans posted on social media before their season-opening game at Lumen Field. The Seahawks won this matchup against the Broncos, who were led by quarterback Russell Wilson, with a score of 26-20.

Payton found out about the scouting and accused Macdonald and his team of cheating, comparing it to the Patriots Spygate scandal. He threatened to publicly accuse the Seahawks unless they faced consequences. Macdonald defended himself, stating that there was no actual cheating involved as the footage was public information on social media platforms like Twitter. The situation led to a tense standoff resembling a "Cold War" between the two teams until the end of the season.

Written for “NFL Coach Spy Allegations” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 5% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

Super Bowl-winning coach reveals 'Cold War' with Broncos' Sean Payton over alleged spying | Matt Calkins Same event

Fox News

⚖️ Leans left Hedges 1 of 30 claims Outlet record 68/100

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sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

1 of 21 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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not political

takes no side on a contested political question

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66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Sports

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Dylan Svoboda

68 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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Also by Dylan Svoboda

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2026-11-01 · New York Post

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 68 articles by Dylan Svoboda →

Claims (21 extracted, 1 hedged)

Mike Macdonald said Sean Payton accused him and the Seahawks of cheating in 2024. asserted

Payton → say → 2024

During an appearance on “In Depth With Graham Bensinger,” Macdonald revealed the bizarre rift with the Broncos coach, which stemmed from Seattle studying training camp footage posted to the internet ahead of their season-opening matchup at Lumen Field, which the Seahawks won, 26-20. asserted

Seahawks → reveal → which

“Fans will post plays from training camp on Twitter, so it’s like public knowledge,” Macdonald said during the interview. asserted

Macdonald → post → interview

“We took like 100 plays from their training camp. asserted

We → take → camp

We were scouting them.” asserted

We → scout → them

According to Macdonald, Payton eventually found out they had watched their plays and believed something more sinister was going on. uncertain

something → accord → plays

“[Payton] got wind of it and he lost it,” Macdonald said. asserted

Macdonald → get → it

“This is the middle of the season, and we won the game. asserted

we → win → game

So he called [Seahawks general manager] John [Schneider]. asserted

he → call → Schneider

He basically threatened to come out publicly and do a whole Patriots Spygate type of thing.” asserted

He → threaten → thing

Macdonald said the Broncos suspected the Seahawks had planted someone inside their operation, comparing the allegation to the sign-stealing scandal that engulfed Michigan, where he spent one season as a defensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh. asserted

he → say → Harbaugh

“I’m sitting there like, ‘Oh my god. asserted

I → sit → ?

We didn’t cheat,’” Macdonald said. asserted

Macdonald → cheat → ?

“They thought it was a Michigan thing where we had a plant and the whole thing.” asserted

we → think → plant

The Seahawks, Macdonald said, responded with a threat of their own. asserted

Macdonald → say → own

“So we had to counter with him and say, ‘If you come out with this, we’re going to sue you because it’s not true.’ asserted

it → have → you

“…The season ends and he let it go,” Macdonald said. asserted

Macdonald → end → ?

He’s like, ‘I’m going to hit the button. asserted

I → ’ → button

I’m going to hit the button.’ asserted

I → go → button

‘Well, we’re going to hit the button.’ asserted

we → go → button

None of us hit the button.” asserted

None → hit → button

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Articles to 4 Nov 2026

Mike Macdonald: Sean Payton threatened to accuse Seahawks of spying over video clips

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Claims (21 extracted, 1 hedged)