I'm Done Doubting John Schneider

As a Seattle Seahawks fan, I’ll admit it: I’ve had my issues with General Manager John Schneider in the past. My biggest frustration was always his lack of attention and resources he put into the offensive line, which always held back Seattle's offense. For years, it has felt like being mediocre was good enough for Schneider and the Seahawks. Seattle for a while has been good enough to be competitive, but not a true Super Bowl contender.

However, I must admit, Schneider has gone on a bit of a heater in that time frame when it comes to decision-making. And now, I think we’re finally seeing those tough decisions made by Schneider help the Seahawks forge a new path, hopefully towards contention in the NFC West.

Let's start by going back to March of 2022...

Moving Off Russell Wilson

Schneider (and Pete Carroll) made the bold decision to move on from Russell Wilson when they traded him to the Denver Broncos.

At the time, I hated it. My belief was simple: if you have a franchise quarterback, you do whatever it takes to keep him happy.

But looking back, Schneider nailed it. Wilson in 2022 was a shell of himself, and since then he’s bounced between three different teams and was just recently benched by the New York Giants. Schneider didn’t just move off him; he got a haul in return that netted draft picks where the Seahawks selected players such as Charles Cross, Boye Mafe, Derrick Hall, and possibly one of the best corners in the NFL right now with Devon Witherspoon.

That move looks more and more like genius by the day.

The New Head Coach Search

In January of 2024, after 14 seasons together, Seahawks ownership decided it was time for the franchise to move on from head coach Pete Carroll and put Schneider in charge of starting a new head coach search.

When the team parted ways with Pete Carroll, plenty of Seahawks fans were furious. I wasn’t one of them. I felt his era had run its course and it was time for a change.

And looking back, I am happy to say I was right, as Schneider was able to get Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.

To me, while only in his second season, I do believe that Macdonald is already a top 7–8 coach in the NFL. If he were an offensive guy, people would be talking about him alongside Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan.

I think Macdonald is the best young defensive mind in football, and it shows every week, as he has transformed this Seahawks defense into one of the best units in all of the NFL, while still employing a majority of the same players the Pete Carroll Seahawks had, whereasthat defense was near the bottom of the league.

His Bold 2025 Offseason Decisions Look Like They Are Paying Off

This past offseason was probably his most controversialas a whole since taking over the Seahawks, and so far, it looks like his bold moves are paying off.

After requesting a new contract or a trade, Seattle decided to trade Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers rather than paying him $33 million a year, betting on Jaxon Smith-Njigba to step into the WR1 role, and through three games this season, JSN is looking like one of the best players in all of the NFL.

Then, he made the even bolder move at quarterback as he pivoted from Geno Smith to Sam Darnold when the price tag got too high for him on a potential new extension for Smith.

Darnold thus far has made it look like Schneider landed a younger, cheaper, more mobile quarterback who’s been outperforming Geno so far this season.

These are the kinds of tough, calculated decisions that separate good GMs from great ones.

Looking Towards the Future

Yes, I still want to see him prioritize the offensive line more, but this past draft was a start, as Seattle's first-round guard, Grey Zabel, looks like an absolute stud.

Aside from not addressing the offensive line as much as I would have liked him to, Schneider has proven himself in almost every other area: he drafts well, knows when to move off players, makes bold trades, and hires the right coaches. That’s the formula for building a contender. And with Schneider pulling the strings, Macdonald showing he is maybe the most underrated coach in the NFL, turning his defense into a force, Sam Darnold showing last year may have not been a fluke, and JSN emerging as a superstar, the Seahawks are trending towards no longer being "mid."

Give it one to two more years, and I think Seattle will be in the NFC title conversation again.

Stop doubting John Schneider.