John Schneider (American football executive)

Last updated

John Schneider
John Schneider 2014.jpg
Schneider in 2014
Seattle Seahawks
Position:President of football operations/general manager
Personal information
Born: (1971-05-25) May 25, 1971 (age 52)
De Pere, Wisconsin, U.S.
Career information
College: St. Thomas
Career history
As an executive:
Career highlights and awards
Executive profile at PFR

John Schneider (born May 25, 1971) is a professional American football executive who is the president of football operations and general manager of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). [1] Schneider was previously an executive for the Washington Redskins and Green Bay Packers in the 2000s. He was a primary architect in building the Seahawks roster that went on to win Super Bowl XLVIII.

Contents

Early years

Schneider grew up in Wisconsin and attended high school in De Pere at Abbot Pennings High School, where he played football and graduated in 1989. He studied history and secondary education at University of St. Thomas and was on the football team his freshman year until injuries caused him to retire. During his junior year, he wrote a letter to Ron Wolf asking if he could work as a scout. His internship that summer was the beginning of his relationship with the Green Bay Packers. [2]

Professional executive career

As an assistant

Green Bay Packers

He started working in the Scouting Department for the Green Bay Packers in 1993.

Kansas City Chiefs

He was the director of pro personnel for the Chiefs from 1997 to 2000.

Seattle Seahawks

He worked for the Seahawks in 2000 under Ted Thompson as director of player personnel.

Washington Redskins

In 2001, Schneider became the vice president of player personnel.

Green Bay Packers

Schneider went back to the Green Bay Packers as the top personnel aide to the Packers' GM. He then elevated to director of football operations.

As general manager

Seattle Seahawks

On January 11, 2010, the Seahawks announced the hiring of Pete Carroll as head coach and vice president of football operations. One week later, on January 18, 2010, the Seahawks announced the hiring of Schneider as their general manager. Schneider added the distinction of executive vice president in 2013. In his role, he manages all aspects of the Seahawks roster and draft process while working collaboratively with Carroll in all facets of the football operations department. [3]

Early years, rise of the Legion of Boom and Super Bowl appearances (2010 to 2014)

Since arriving in Seattle, Schneider and Carroll orchestrated a complete overhaul of Seattle's roster. In 2010, Schneider completed 284 roster transactions, including trading for Marshawn Lynch. [4] On February 2, 2014, the Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII, their first and only championship in their existence. Of those on the championship roster, only Max Unger, Red Bryant, Jon Ryan, and Brandon Mebane were Seahawks prior to Schneider's arrival in Seattle. Schneider and Seattle followed their Super Bowl win with another NFC Championship, but lost to New England in Super Bowl XLIX.

Notable draft picks of Schneider involved in winning the Super Bowl XLVIII included Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Byron Maxwell, K.J. Wright, Bobby Wagner, and Earl Thomas. He also picked up undrafted receiver duo Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse. Notable free agents were Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, and Brandon Browner. These defensive players soon became known as the Legion of Boom due to their hard-hitting style of defense.

Final years of the Legion of Boom (2015 to 2018)

In 2015, the Seahawks clinched a wild-card berth, but fell in the NFC Divisional Round to the Panthers. Schneider signed a 5-year contract extension with the Seahawks in July 2016 that kept him in Seattle through the 2021 season. The Seahawks won their fourth NFC West title under Schneider in 2016, but were eliminated in the divisional round of the playoffs for the second straight year. In 2021, Schneider signed a 6-year contract extension with the Seahawks that will keep him in Seattle through the 2027 draft. [5] [6]

Years of transition (2018 to 2023)

Despite the regression of the defense, the Seahawks remained a top team in the NFL due to the stellar play of quarterback Russell Wilson and the emergence of the receiver duo of 2015 3rd-round pick Tyler Lockett and 2019 2nd-round pick DK Metcalf. Schneider also traded for Duane Brown, Quandre Diggs, and Jamal Adams during that time.

After missing the playoffs in 2021 Schneider traded franchise quarterback Russell Wilson to the Broncos for two first-round picks (used on Charles Cross and Devon Witherspoon) and two second-round picks (used on Boye Mafe and Derick Hall), and for Broncos players Drew Lock, Shelby Harris, and Noah Fant.

With head coach Mike Macdonald (from 2024)

In 2024 Schneider needed to hire a new head coach after Pete Carroll moved to an advisory role for the Seattle Seahawks. During the process he and the search committee interviewed Ejiro Evero, Patrick Graham, Ben Johnson, Mike Kafka, Bobby Slowik, Frank Smith, the eventual new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, and Raheem Morris, who became the Falcons head coach. In the end, he hired Mike Macdonald as the new head coach for the Seahawks, signing him to a six-year contract. [7] This made Macdonald the youngest active head coach in the NFL to date.

Awards and honors

Super Bowl XLVIII Champion (as EVP/GM of the Seattle Seahawks)

Personal life

Schneider and his wife, Traci, have two sons, Ben and Jack. Schneider and wife Traci founded Ben's Fund in 2012 in honor of their son, Ben, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3. The intent of Ben’s Fund is to provide financial support to children and young adults with autism in Washington State along with guidance and support as they continue their journey. [8]

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References

  1. ↑ "Introductory Press Conference". 710 ESPN Seattle. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Hail Marys, Hard Work Fuel Alum's NFL Rise (and the Seattle Seahawks)". St. Thomas Newspaper. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Seattle Seahawks - John Schneider". www.seahawks.com.
  4. ↑ "AFTER 502 TRANSACTIONS, SEAHAWKS IN REVERSE". SPNW STAFF-SportspressNW.com . November 7, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  5. ↑ Condotta, Bob (January 12, 2021). "Seahawks, GM John Schneider agree to five-year contract extension". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  6. ↑ Boyle, John (January 12, 2021). "Seahawks Executive VP/GM John Schneider Signs Contract Extension Through The 2027 Draft". Seattle Seahawks Official Website. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  7. ↑ "NFL coaching, GM tracker: Latest news, interviews, developments in 2024 hiring cycle". NFL.com. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  8. ↑ "About Ben's Fund". Ben's Fund (Seattle Seahawks). Retrieved March 24, 2022.
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