Earlier this year, Seahawks general manager John Schneider was the featured speaker at the Seahawks' Change of Command Ceremony that welcomed the team's honored military unit for the 2022 season.

Addressing more than 300 Marines and Navy Sailors at Bangor Trident Base, Schneider told the group, "We're recognizing that every one of you are incredibly important because of what you're representing, and that is our freedoms and our ability to do what we do every single day, and how much we appreciate you. The Seattle Seahawks organization, we totally appreciate you."

And while he isn't always addressing a large crowd of Marines and Navy Sailors, supporting active members of the military and veterans is a regular occurrence for the Seahawks general manager, which is why he is the team's nominee for the 2022 NFL Salute To Service Award.

"It's a true honor to be nominated for the (Salute to Service ) award," Schneider said.

For Schneider and his wife, Traci, respect for the military began at home when they were children.

"There's a lot of different aspects of why my wife and I try to do as many things as we try to do, one of them being family. My father was a medical doctor on a B-52 during the Bay of Pigs, then my wife Traci's father served in Vietnam, so there's a family aspect for sure."

Looking to, as he puts it, "be able to connect and try to empower people," John and Traci Schneider have, since 2012, personally purchased and donated four tickets per home game to local military service members who have recently received military honors or accolades. In 2022, Schneider added sideline passes to that experience, and as his personal guests, those military members spend time with him on the sideline before games.

As part of the Seahawks' Merging Vets & Players (MVP) organizational huddles, Schneider speaks openly and candidly to the group about his father's military service and how being part of a military family impacted his life. During the Seahawks' "Military Day" during training camp, Schneider greeted the more than 100 service members in attendance and cheered them on during the team's USAA Military Combine event following practice.

"Just being able to connect with veterans, whether it be through MVP or at games in the pregame period, just giving that time to people—the No. 1 gift you can give somebody is your time, so being able to ask, 'How are you doing, where are you from, what does life look like for you, what are your goals?' Being able to connect, and compassionate for what's coming their way, and being thankful for the veterans and everything they've done for us."

Throughout the year, Schneider also supports the team's year-round commitment to the Military Community that includes inviting over 700 Military Service Members to Seahawks home games, Veteran support through our Task Force 12 non-profit organizations, and unique opportunities for the entire Military family.

"Any time you have an opportunity to give back, it's a gift," Schneider said. "The more that's been given to you, the more you receive, the more you need to give back, and my wife, Traci, and I have always been extremely cognizant of that."