Biography
John Schneider enters his 15th season as general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, adding the title of president of football operations in January of 2024, managing all aspects of the Seahawks roster and draft process while overseeing the head coach hiring process that landed Pro Football Writers of America's 2023 Assistant Coach of the Year in Mike Macdonald. Schneider joined the Seahawks on January 19, 2010, as general manager, and added executive vice president distinction in 2013.
John Schneider enters his 15th season as general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, adding the title of president of football operations in January of 2024, managing all aspects of the Seahawks roster and draft process while overseeing the head coach hiring process that landed Pro Football Writers of America's 2023 Assistant Coach of the Year in Mike Macdonald. Schneider joined the Seahawks on January 19, 2010, as general manager, and added executive vice president distinction in 2013.
Beginning his 32nd season working in the professional ranks in 2024, Schneider's philosophy of building through the draft while making strategic acquisitions via trade and free agency fosters a sustained championship caliber atmosphere.
The signs of that philosophy have been evident during the last decade-plus, advancing to the Divisional Playoffs or better seven times. He has constructed a team that appeared in back-to-back Super Bowls and won Super Bowl XLVIII, the first NFL title in franchise history. The 2013 championship was won with the youngest 53-man roster to ever win a Super Bowl. He was named Sports Illustrated's Executive of the Year for 2012 after the Seahawks made the playoffs and just missed playing for the NFC Championship.
Together with Pete Carroll from 2010-23, the Seahawks compiled the sixth-best record in the NFL since 2010 with a 137-89-1 mark and is one of seven teams to win at least 130 games over that span. The club posted 10-plus wins in five-consecutive seasons (2012-16) for the first time in franchise history, including eight of the last 12 seasons, and won five NFC West Division titles.
Schneider has continued to turn the roster over since 2010, totaling more than 3,600 transactions prior to the 2024 season, helping to cultivate depth on one of the NFL's most talented rosters.
Armed with an additional first-round selection (No. 5) acquired from Denver in the trade for Russell Wilson, Schneider selected Devon Witherspoon, who became Seattle's second AP Defensive Rookie of the Year nominee in as many years, as he ranked fifth in the NFL in passes defensed (16), while Jaxon Smith-Njigba (No. 20 overall), finished second in franchise history for most receptions by a rookie with 63.
He and his personnel department were awarded the 2022 Best Draft Award by Inside the League founder Neil Stratton at the 2023 combine, an award voted on by fellow scouts and personnel members. The 2022 class featured seven players who made significant contributions on offense, defense or special teams, including five starters: Coby Bryant, Charles Cross, Abraham Lucas, Kenneth Walker III and Riq Woolen. Woolen was a finalist for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, while Walker was a finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Lucas and Cross became the first rookie tackle duo to start a team's first 15 games since the 1970 merger, while Seattle ranked second in the NFL in games started by rookies (70) and offensive and defensive snaps played by rookies (4,868).
Schneider's 2012 draft class was regarded as a failure outside Seahawks headquarters but was one that produced potential Hall of Famers in Bobby Wagner, Russell Wilson, and foundational pieces in draftees Bruce Irvin, Jeremy Lane and J.R. Sweezy. A 2012 fifth-round pick (#147, LB Tank Carder) was also used in the 2010 trade when Seattle acquired Marshawn Lynch from Buffalo.
He has shown a willingness and creativity to acquire extra draft picks and young talent via trade and free agency since his inaugural season. Presented with two of the top 14 picks in the 2010 NFL Draft, he was able to acquire what many considered the best tackle prospect in Pro Bowler Russell Okung and a starting free safety with the selection of three-time first-team All-Pro Earl Thomas.
He orchestrated 13 trades in 2010 as general manager, 12 in 2017 and 13 in 2019 to build draft capital and add veteran leadership. His trades have netted game-changing veterans and young talent in Jamal Adams, Duane Brown, Chris Carson, Kam Chancellor, Chris Clemons, Jadeveon Clowney, Charles Cross, Michael Dickson, Quandre Diggs, Carlos Dunlap II, Jimmy Graham, Percy Harvin, Bruce Irvin, Tyler Lockett, Lynch, Boye Mafe, DK Metcalf, Jarran Reed, Richard Sherman, Golden Tate, Wagner, Leonard Williams and Witherspoon.
His roster has included 15 first-team All-Pro selections since 2012, and without a Pro Bowl selection on the roster from 2009-10, Schneider's roster has seen 30 different players selected from 2011-23: Wagner (9), Wilson (9), Thomas (6), Chancellor (4), Lynch (4), Sherman (4), Michael Bennett (3), Diggs (3), Doug Baldwin (2), Nick Bellore (2), Brown (2), Graham (2), Metcalf (2), Geno Smith (2), Max Unger (2), Adams, Cliff Avril, Brandon Browner, Dickson, Shaquill Griffin, Lockett, Julian Love, Jason Myers, Okung, Tyler Ott, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington, Devon Witherspoon, K.J. Wright and Woolen. All of these players, except Unger, were added via draft, trade and free agency after Schneider took over.
Before joining the Seahawks, Schneider produced eight successful seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Originally joining the Packers on March 1, 2002, as a personnel analyst to the general manager, he was promoted in May of 2008 to director of football operations. In his role, Schneider served as strategic counsel to General Manager Ted Thompson, addressing and evaluating the needs of the team in both free agency and in the draft while incorporating long-range planning processes that examined the Packers roster, as well as the rosters of all NFL teams.
Before rejoining the Packers in 2002, he spent three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (1997-99), one year with the Seahawks (2000) and a year with the Washington Commanders (2001) as vice president of player personnel.
Schneider, a native of De Pere, Wis., first learned the tools of his trade with the Packers, beginning as an intern during the summer of 1992 under Executive Vice President/General Manager Ron Wolf. After graduating from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., Schneider returned to Green Bay, serving as pro personnel assistant for four years (1993-96), and played an integral role in the signing of several free agents who would help make up the team that won Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans.
Schneider moved on to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1997 as director of pro personnel. It was in Kansas City that Schneider first worked with Marty Schottenheimer, whom he would later join in Washington. With the Chiefs, Schneider oversaw the scouting of all players with pro playing experience, including NFL Europa and the CFL, as well as the NFL. He also conducted advance scouting of all Kansas City opponents and was responsible for free agent acquisition.
In 2000, he subsequently signed on as director of player personnel for the Seahawks, joining Thompson and Mike Holmgren, with whom he had worked in Green Bay.
Schneider joined Schottenheimer in Washington in 2001 as vice president of player personnel, overseeing all aspects of the player personnel department, including college scouting, the college draft, pro scouting, free agency and day-to-day player personnel evaluations and operations. His duties included assembling and managing Washington's scouting staff, a process which involved the hiring of 15 personnel staff members and implementation of a new scouting system. In his role, Schneider advised Schottenheimer on all personnel matters.
In 2012, John and his wife Traci launched "Ben's Fund." Named after their oldest son, "Ben's Fund" provides grants to young adults and families in order to help cover costs associated with medical bills, therapies and numerous other aspects of supporting a child, or children, on the autism spectrum. With the support of the organization and community, they have partnered to raise more than $5.1 million for "Ben's Fund," awarding more than 3,400 grants totaling nearly $3.1 million in 13 years.
In addition to their fundraising efforts, the Schneiders spearheaded the opening of the "A-OK Sensory Room" at Lumen Field in 2019 in order to better support guests with sensory needs. In 2022, the room was renovated and re-dedicated as "Ben's Room." The space continues to offer guests at Lumen Field a safe and calming environment for those who need a respite from the noise and excitement that comes with the Seahawks gameday experience.
Schneider serves on the GM Advisory Committee and the Club Executive Committee Working Group. He earned a degree in history and also studied education at St. Thomas, playing football for one year before a shoulder injury cut short his career.
Born on May 25, 1971, Schneider attended De Pere's Abbot Pennings High School and finished as one of the school's all-time leading rushers. He and Traci have two sons, Ben, and Jack.