Field Gulls
Maybe it’s overdue, perhaps it’s the perfect time, but it’s finally happened for John Schneider.
The longtime Seattle Seahawks general manager has won his first Executive of the Year award, which is voted on by the Professional Football Writers Association (PFWA). While he never won an award for building the Legion of Boom and an eventual Super Bowl champion, this iteration of Seahawks football under a new power structure has earned him major recognition.
Schneider’s 2025 offseason, his second following the departure of Pete Carroll, was bold and ambitious. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb was fired and replaced by Klint Kubiak, who’s a finalist for Assistant Coach of the Year. He traded away Geno Smith and DK Metcalf, of which the second-round pick from the Metcalf deal eventually was packaged for a trade-up to get Nick Emmanwori, a Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist. In a far more aggressive free agency than usual, Schneider signed Sam Darnold as Smith’s replacement, and Darnold continued his successful play instead of regressing from his career year with the Minnesota Vikings. He brought in veterans Cooper Kupp and DeMarcus Lawrence, the latter earning a Pro Bowl nod. Midseason, Schneider acquired wide receiver and return specialist Rashid Shaheed, who’s already on the cusp of tying the record for most Seahawks kick and punt return touchdowns of all time. Lest we forget that after years of warranted complaints about the offensive line, Schneider took Grey Zabel in the first round of the NFL Draft, and he’s helped turn the Seahawks into at least a competent line instead of a bottom-tier quintet. Even though this wasn’t a move made this season, Schneider’s hiring of head coach Mike Macdonald (a Coach of the Year finalist) also looks to be a brilliant decision.
Virtually every move of consequence has paid off to some degree, and the results up to this point have been amazing: a 14-3 regular season record, an NFC West title, the number one seed, and an upcoming NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Well done and congratulations to John Schneider. Hopefully this dream season ends with him lifting another Lombardi Trophy!
