How Seahawks’ Charles Cross made his coach’s fave play maybe ever in Arizona
Youthful looking Mike Macdonald has actually been coaching football for almost 20 years.
He’s seen hundreds of games. Tens of thousands of plays. And that doesn’t count those plays he’s studied endlessly on film to prepare Cedar Shoals (Georgia) High School, the University of Georgia, the Baltimore Ravens, the University of Michigan and now his Seattle Seahawks to play.
Charles Cross just gave the 37-year-old coach and his Seahawks one play Macdonald just ranked perhaps above all others.
The Arizona Cardinals had stood up and stonewalled running back Zach Charbonnet on third down at the goal line early in the second quarter of the Seahawks’ game against their NFC West rivals Thursday night. Cross, Seattle’s left tackle who was nearby after throwing a block, saw that.
He responded, like a fireman. Literally.
The 317-pound Cross fireman-tossed the 220-pound Charbonnet across the goal line. Touchdown Seahawks, for a 14-3 lead. They went on to win 23-20, though they made it harder than it should have been in the process.
Yet more than Jason Myers’ winning kick on the final play, more than quarterback Sam Darnold’s display of unique poise in the clutch, Macdonald was beaming about Cross’s heroics.
The coach who preaches “12 As One” so much he had it printed on T-shirts players and assistants wear, saw Cross’s hoist as a play that exemplifies what he wants his Seahawks to become.
It looks like they may already be there.
Cross scored the touchdown, as much or more than Charbonnet did.
“Yeah, I screwed it up. I should have given Charles a game ball,” Macdonald said.
“That’s one of my favorite plays I’ve ever seen.”
Cross sounded like a fireman talking about his play. You know, just helping a person in need.
“I just saw he wasn’t in the end zone yet,” Cross said. He shrugged from his seat at his locker in another bumpin’ Seahawks postgame locker room.
“You know, just playing team ball, helping my guys, pushing the pile. Those were a big emphasis for today,” Cross said.
“I was in tunnel vision at the moment. I was just running through him. “Next thing: He was in the end zone.”
Yes, Charbonnet (12 carries, 39 yards in his return after missing a game with a foot injury) appreciated the ride.
“Yeah, man. I was driving my legs and definitely felt this wave behind me,” he said. “Pushed me straight in.
“Definite give credit for him for that.”
Charbonnet agrees with his coach. He sees what Cross did as emblematic of the connection these Seahawks have at 3-1. They’ve won three straight games since a late loss in the opener to San Francisco.
“That’s just been a big emphasis on this season: ‘12 as One,’” Charbonnet said. “We emphasize that a lot, of running to the ball, pushing the pile forward.
“That was just a great example of that coming to life.
“Definitely playing together and on the same wavelength right now.”
Charles Cross’s personal challenges
Four games in, this has been a trying year already for Cross. The Seahawks’ first-round draft choice in 2022 left training camp in August to have surgery in Los Angeles, to repair a dislocated finger.
He’s also had personal challenges off the field that he and his coach decline to specify.
The Seahawks picked up his fifth-year contract option for 2026. But they are seeking a longer-term extension that would bring a more team-favorable salary-cap charge than the guranteed $17.56 million he’s scheduled to count on Seattle’s cap for 2026.
His play Thursday night, and his coach’s love for it, signal that extension could be — should be — coming soon.
“(I’m) just so proud of him, man,” Macdonald said. “This guy has gone through a lot this year with some personal things. “He’s such a great person. He is a great leader. He’s a great football player. We could be in a walkthrough and this guy is just (going) a thousand percent. Attention to detail. ...Does all the things you ask for. He sets such a great example for our team doing those things. “It’s probably my favorite play of the year, so he’ll be rewarded this week.
"I promise.”
Talking to The News Tribune late Thursday night in the desert, Cross didn’t elaborate on his off-field challenges this year. Among teammates inside a joyous locker room minutes after a big win wasn’t the time or place, anyway.
“This season has been a lot different for me,” he did say. “New room. New coaches. I’ve just been where my feet are at, enjoying the guys, enjoying this team.
“We have a great team. Great guys, in every (position) room.
“The environment here, it’s special, man. Something special is brewin’ here.”
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 11:37 PM.
