It was jarring to see a 10-win team undergo such a transformation in a short period. Although such a shakeup wasn\u2019t necessarily the plan when Seattle began its offseason after falling short of the postseason in 2024, managing all those franchise-altering moves was the result of a Schneider-led operation establishing a game plan while also being ready to call audibles at a moment\u2019s notice.<\/p>\n
Every offseason, Schneider, who has overseen the Seahawks\u2019 roster since 2010, makes sure his staff knows the landscape of the NFL well before the start of the new league year in March. They identify players and map out scenarios, leaning on relationships around the league so they can pivot quickly if a bomb drops or negotiations with one of their players break down.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat just reflects how prepared and comprehensive our process is,\u201d vice president of player acquisition Matt Berry said. \u201cAnd that starts with John and his vision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schneider\u2019s vision is responsible for the Seahawks reaching the Super Bowl for the third time under his leadership. In tandem with former head coach Pete Carroll, who was hired before Schneider, he constructed the league\u2019s best roster \u2014 headlined by an iconic defense<\/a> \u2014 and captured the franchise\u2019s only championship in the 2013 season. Their repeat bid fell short the following year, but on Feb. 8 at Levi\u2019s Stadium, they will have a rematch with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60<\/a>.<\/p>\n This time, Schneider built a championship-caliber roster alongside coach Mike Macdonald, who was hired by Schneider and team ownership in January 2024. No shot-caller in the NFL bats 1.000, and Schneider certainly whiffed on several major transactions in the decade between Super Bowl appearances. But Seattle\u2019s return to the sport\u2019s pinnacle is the product of his willingness to roll the dice, superb drafting and never-ending quest to improve the roster, even in the middle of the season.<\/p>\n Schneider traded Russell Wilson for first- and second-round picks in consecutive drafts right before the quarterback\u2019s play declined. After that trade, he re-signed Smith twice at below-market rates, and Smith led the team to three straight winning seasons and a playoff berth. Schneider then replaced Smith with Darnold, who also signed at a below-market rate. Darnold just had the game of his life<\/a> in the NFC Championship Game and led Seattle to the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n The successes and failures of general managers can often be traced back to their handling of the quarterback position. Seattle has had consistently competent quarterback play for more than a decade. The Wilson trade might be Schneider\u2019s magnum opus.<\/p>\n The picks acquired in the deal that sent Wilson to the Denver Broncos were used to select left tackle Charles Cross (No. 9 in 2022), who just inked a four-year, $104.4 million extension<\/a>; outside linebacker Boye Mafe (No. 40 in 2022); cornerback Devon Witherspoon<\/a> (No. 5 in 2023), a three-time Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro this season; and outside linebacker Derick Hall (No. 37 in 2023).<\/p>\n \n Devon Witherspoon (No. 21), Boye Mafe (53) and Derick Hall (58) were all drafted with picks from Denver via the Russell Wilson trade. (Rio Giancarlo \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n Beyond the actual players selected with those picks, the extra capital gave Schneider what he has always needed to be at his best on draft weekend: multiple bites at the apple. When the Wilson deal was finalized in March 2022, Carroll relayed a sentiment from team owner Jody Allen about the stockpile of picks \u2014 a year after Seattle made only three selections \u2014 to build a younger squad.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn, you\u2019re back in your wheelhouse,\u201d she said then, according to Carroll.<\/p>\n Schneider\u2019s draft haul from 2022 included Cross, Mafe and four other starters on this Super Bowl team: running back Ken Walker III (No. 41), right tackle Abe Lucas (72), safety Coby Bryant (109) and cornerback Riq Woolen (153). Seattle\u2019s 2023 class also included Jaxon Smith-Njigba (20), the franchise\u2019s first first-team All-Pro receiver in 40 years<\/a>, running back Zach Charbonnet (52) and right guard Anthony Bradford (108).<\/p>\n The Seahawks wouldn\u2019t be in the Super Bowl without their current quarterback. Nor would they be here without the assets acquired by trading their previous Super Bowl-winning signal caller.<\/p>\n For years, the relatively inexpensive contracts that defensive ends Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril signed in March 2013 were by far the best free-agent deals of Schneider\u2019s tenure. Darnold might have already snatched that title. If Seattle wins another championship, Pro Bowl edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence\u2019s three-year, $32.5 million deal will enter that runner-up discussion.<\/p>\n The signings of outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (2022), safety Julian Love (2023) and Cooper Kupp (2025) are more hits for Schneider\u2019s resume.<\/p>\n Midseason trades also turned Seattle into a contender. Defensive tackle Leonard Williams (second-team All-Pro), inside linebacker Ernest Jones IV (second-team All-Pro) and receiver Rashid Shaheed (Pro Bowl return specialist) have been difference makers this season. All were acquired ahead of the trade deadline: Williams from the New York Giants in 2023 for second- and fifth-round picks; Jones from the Tennessee Titans in 2024 for a fourth-round pick; and Shaheed from the New Orleans Saints in November for fourth- and fifth-round picks.<\/p>\n Schneider has a history of impactful in-season swings, going back to the October 2010 deal to acquire Marshawn Lynch from the Buffalo Bills for fourth- and fifth-round picks. Lynch became the engine of a Super Bowl-winning offense.<\/p>\n Williams and Jones are two of the best players on the league\u2019s No. 1 defense<\/a>. Shaheed looks like a cost-effective version of the 2013 Percy Harvin deal, with his penchant for big plays as a runner and receiver in addition to special teams. It has taken time, but Schneider\u2019s belief in using the entire NFL calendar to tweak the roster has once again paid off.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always, \u2018What\u2019s next?\u2019 And always, \u2018Your team is never good; we\u2019re never set,\u2019\u201d Berry said of Schneider\u2019s team-building principles. \u201c\u2018Who\u2019s gonna be the next player up? Who\u2019s going to be the practice-squad player?\u2019 That\u2019s just something he\u2019s instilled in all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n The same mindset applies to less-heralded moves like claiming inside linebacker Drake Thomas off waivers in August 2023, signing North Dakota State center Jalen Sundell as a rookie free agent in July 2024 and adding cornerback Josh Jobe to the practice squad a month later. They\u2019ve all been impact players while making a combined $3.35 million in base salary this season.<\/p>\n Under Schneider, Seattle never stops searching for every advantage possible, throughout the year.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of pride in that,\u201d assistant general manager Nolan Teasley said. \u201cThat\u2019s why we put in the work at certain times of the year. Drake Thomas is an example of why we have the process that we have throughout training camp and the preseason, looking for ways to supplement our roster, supplement our depth.\u201d<\/p>\n Entering the Super Bowl, the Seahawks have arguably better offensive and defensive lines than the Patriots. Their past two drafts have been significant contributors. Defensive tackle Byron Murphy II was selected with the 16th pick in 2024, and left guard Grey Zabel was the 18th pick in April. Both made the Pro Football Writers of America\u2019s All-Rookie team, and both received All-Pro votes this season.<\/p>\n This past offseason, Schneider said he keeps his eyes on the trenches when he watches the Seahawks play live. That was a notable statement from Schneider \u2014 before 2025, Seattle hadn\u2019t fielded a good offensive line in years, and the defensive line got pushed around the last time the team made the postseason. Now the Seahawks are dominant up front on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n \n John Schneider, right, was named the Pro Football Writers Association\u2019s Executive of the Year for 2025. Mike Macdonald, left, is a finalist for the Associated Press\u2019 Coach of the Year award. (Steph Chambers \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n From 2013 to 2019, Schneider used first-round picks on right tackle Germain Ifedi, running back Rashaad Penny, and defensive lineman LJ Collier. Jordyn Brooks was a good use of a first-round pick in 2020. However, Seattle let him walk in free agency, and he was a first-team All-Pro linebacker this year for the Miami Dolphins. In the past four drafts, Seattle is 5-for-5 in getting the proper value from its first-round picks: Cross, Witherspoon, Smith-Njigba, Murphy and Zabel.<\/p>\n \u201cThe throughline between all those drafts in the last four or five is the type of person, the type of competitor, how unique those guys are,\u201d Berry said. \u201cAnd you can see it in the connection here in the locker room. And you keep stacking those types of players, I think you can build something pretty special.\u201d<\/p>\n The extra draft ammunition in 2023 allowed Schneider to use two first-rounders for the first time since 2010, when he selected left tackle Russell Okung and safety Earl Thomas, two cornerstone players on their championship team. Witherspoon and Smith-Njigba, two of the best in the league at their positions, are on a similar track.<\/p>\n \u201cSpoon is the heartbeat \u2014 the whole building feels him,\u201d Schneider said Thursday. \u201cEverybody totally respects Jax, the way he handles himself. It was amazing to have two guys that we thought were top 5-7 players in that draft and be able to draft both those guys. It was pretty incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n The second round of the draft has long been kind to Seattle, and the trade-up this year \u2014 with the extra capital from the Metcalf deal \u2014 to select Nick Emmanwori with the 35th pick is the latest example. Emmanwori is a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year and received All-Pro votes as a nickelback, though he wears multiple hats in Macdonald\u2019s defense. On any given snap, he can be an edge rusher, inside linebacker, nickel or safety. He represents an archetype that is becoming increasingly valuable<\/a> in today\u2019s game.<\/p>\n \u201cI think me and Grey, even the whole rookie draft class, may be the best rookie class in the whole NFL,\u201d Emmanwori said Sunday after their NFC title game victory. \u201cJohn did a great job. The whole team, scouting did a good job. But me and Grey, I mean, we may be the best first-two-pick duo in the NFL, honestly. Great, A-plus draft. Huge impact to our team as rookies.\u201d<\/p>\n The Pro Football Writers of America voted Schneider the 2025 Executive of the Year, the first time in his career he\u2019s won that award. When addressing the award on Thursday, Schneider gave shoutouts to nearly everyone in the building.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the ultimate organizational award because of everything that goes into all the decisions that we\u2019re making throughout the acquisition process every single year,\u201d said Schneider, who then rattled off members of the sports science, analytics and medical staffs, along with the coaches and players. He referred to the behind-the-scenes staffers as \u201cThe guts of the organization that help us be our best every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n Schneider is known for making everyone in the building feel valued and part of what makes the organization special. Many around the team consider it his superpower, one that strengthens his ability to assemble a roster.<\/p>\n The Seahawks dominated the regular season and are favored to win the Super Bowl. There are undoubtedly many people responsible, but it all starts with Schneider, who once again built one of the best teams in football.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"RENTON, Wash. \u2014 For the people who spend countless hours inside the Seattle Seahawks\u2019 headquarters, a five-day stretch…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":716452,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2081],"tags":[7,6,238,237,261,2635],"class_list":{"0":"post-716451","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-seattle-seahawks","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-nfl","10":"tag-seahawks","11":"tag-seattle","12":"tag-seattle-seahawks","13":"tag-seattleseahawks"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/115984010329538254","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/716451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=716451"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/716451\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/716452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=716451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=716451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=716451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Seahawks](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2188102258-scaled.jpg\")
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