John Schneider Named NFL Executive of the Year After Masterclass in Roster Building
After 16 seasons as the architect behind the most successful era in Seattle Seahawks history, general manager John Schneider finally has the hardware to match the résumé. The Pro Football Writers Association named Schneider the NFL Executive of the Year for 2025 - his first time receiving the league’s most recognized front-office honor.
And frankly, it’s hard to argue with the timing.
Schneider’s latest run of moves has been nothing short of transformative, setting the stage for a Seahawks team that just posted a franchise-record 14 regular-season wins and is now one win away from the Super Bowl. From bold quarterback decisions to savvy draft picks and midseason trades, Schneider has shown why he’s one of the most respected minds in the NFL.
The Quarterback Gamble That Paid Off
Let’s start with the move that turned heads across the league: Schneider’s decision to move on from Geno Smith.
After a strong 4,000-yard season, Smith was looking for a richer contract extension. Schneider didn’t bite. Instead, he shipped Smith to Las Vegas, reuniting the quarterback with former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll - a move that looked risky at the time but now feels like a masterstroke.
The fallout? Smith had one of the worst years of his career, and the Raiders suffered through the most losses in franchise history. Carroll was let go after just one season.
Meanwhile, Schneider pivoted and signed Sam Darnold in free agency, giving the former Viking a three-year deal worth up to $100.5 million. That bet has paid off in a big way.
Darnold threw for over 4,000 yards, earned another Pro Bowl nod, and tied Tom Brady’s record for most regular-season wins across two consecutive years (28). He also became the first quarterback to reach that win total in back-to-back seasons with two different teams.
Darnold didn’t just steady the ship - he led it to new heights. Seattle’s 14 regular-season wins set a new franchise mark, and now the Seahawks are preparing to host the NFC Championship Game against the Rams.
Draft-Day Brilliance
Schneider’s draft-day decisions were just as impactful.
In the first round, he selected Grey Zabel - the highest-drafted interior offensive lineman in Seattle since Steve Hutchinson back in 2001. And just like Hutchinson, Zabel wears No.
- The rookie stepped in as the starting left guard from the moment he arrived and didn’t allow a sack until deep into the season.
His play has been so solid that even veteran Pro Bowl defensive lineman Leonard Williams credited Zabel for helping him refine his pass-rush techniques - not the kind of praise you often hear from a seasoned vet to a rookie lineman.
Then came the bold trade-up in the second round to grab Nick Emmanwori. That move added a dynamic, versatile piece to Mike Macdonald’s defense - a unit that finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in points allowed. Emmanwori has lined up all over the field and is now a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Midseason Magic: The Shaheed Trade
When fifth-round rookie wide receiver and return specialist Tory Horton went down with a season-ending shin injury in early November, Schneider didn’t sit still. That same week, he swung a trade for Rashid Shaheed, the 2023 All-Pro return man from the Saints.
That move might’ve flown under the radar at the time, but it’s been massive in hindsight.
Shaheed has arguably been Seattle’s MVP over the past month. His punt return touchdown helped spark a wild comeback win over the Rams in mid-December, and his 95-yard kickoff return to open the divisional round against San Francisco set the tone for a blowout victory.
The Coach Who Changed the Culture
Of course, all of this is happening under the leadership of head coach Mike Macdonald - and that’s another Schneider decision that’s aged beautifully.
After the 2023 season ended without a playoff berth, team chair Jody Allen chose to move on from Pete Carroll and backed Schneider to reshape the future. His pick?
A 36-year-old defensive coordinator from Baltimore with no head coaching experience. That hire raised eyebrows, but Macdonald has delivered.
Since taking over, Macdonald has won 25 of his first 35 games. His Seahawks are the NFC’s top seed for the first time since 2014 - the last time Seattle reached the Super Bowl. And he’s created a culture that players and coaches alike credit for their development and success.
Macdonald recalled his first meeting with Schneider, a casual coffee shop meetup in Baltimore that immediately felt like a connection.
“It was like we’d known each other forever,” Macdonald said. “That’s how he is.
He puts you at ease, takes the edge off. That’s not easy to do.”
Macdonald believes Schneider’s impact goes beyond personnel moves.
“Name a thing we’ve done since we walked in the door that John hasn’t touched,” he said. “From leadership, to daily operations, to how he treats people - that’s helped guys take the next step in their careers.
Coaches, players, personnel. You trace it back, and John’s at the center of it.”
And while Schneider would no doubt credit his staff and the organization as a whole - that’s just who he is - there’s no denying the fingerprints he’s left on this team.
Now, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, the Seahawks are reaping the rewards of a front office that’s firing on all cylinders. For John Schneider, the Executive of the Year award isn’t just overdue - it’s a fitting recognition of a season, and a vision, that’s reshaped the franchise once again.