John Schneider, one of the architects behind the Legion of Boom, is staying in Seattle a little while longer. On July 30, the Seahawks announced that the general manager and president of football operations received a four-year contract extension, keeping him in place through the 2031 season.
“The extension of General Manager John Schneider’s contract is a testament to his 15-plus years of football leadership and success,” said Jody Allen, chair of the Seattle Seahawks. “I am confident that John will continue to deliver real results and a continued strong partnership with head coach Mike Macdonald that is already contributing to our winning culture on and off the field.”
The Seahawks hired Schneider in 2010, along with former head coach Pete Carroll. The duo led Seattle to its first and only Super Bowl victory in the 2013 season, routing Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.
Entering his 15th season in Seattle, Schneider is the longest-tenured general manager in team history. He is also the fourth-longest-serving general manager in the NFL, respectively behind Jerry Jones (Cowboys), Mike Brown (Bengals), and Mickey Loomis (Saints). The Seahawks have compiled the sixth-best record in the league during Schneider’s tenure, going 147-96-1.
The Legion of Boom Era
Schneider is most famous for helping to assemble the Legion of Boom–a nickname given to the Seahawks’ dominant secondary in the 2010s. The team largely featured homegrown talent, as Schneider found immense success through the draft early in his tenure. Some of Schneider’s greatest hits from that era include Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor.
According to Seahawks press, “Schneider’s draft classes produced 16 players who went on to earn a total of 52 Pro Bowl selections, and five who earned first-team All-Pro honors a total of 14 times.
“Schneider also made trades to acquire several key players over the years, most notably the 2010 deal to add Marshawn Lynch, who became a franchise icon, a first-team All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowler while helping set the tone for a Super Bowl-winning team. In all, seven of Schneider’s trade acquisitions have gone on to earn Pro-Bowl honors as Seahawks, as have nine free agent signings, seven of them unrestricted free agents and two of them undrafted rookie free agents.”
Life Without Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll
Schneider and the Seahawks have entered a new era in recent years. Carroll has been replaced by second-year coach Mike MacDonald. Wilson has been replaced by Geno Smith, and now Sam Darnold. The defense is filled with exciting young players like Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, Leonard Williams, and Julian Love but has yet to show league-leading dominance. (Of course, matching the Legion of Boom’s dominance is near-impossible for any team.)
The Seahawks have also enjoyed consistent success in the regular season despite the overhaul, posting a 47-37 record over the last five years. However, the team’s last playoff victory was in 2019.
After losing the NFC West tie-breaker to the Los Angeles Rams last season, the Hawks are seeking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2022. With their GM in place until the 2030s, Seahawks fans will hope stability breeds the postseason success seen in the early days of the John Schneider era.
