On this date two years ago, the Seattle Seahawks didn’t have a head coach.
It had been nearly three weeks since the Seahawks decided to move on from the legendary Pete Carroll, ending his 14-year tenure after the team failed to reach 10 wins for a third straight season. And the Hawks were still a few days from naming his successor.
Tom Brady details big difference between Seahawks’ D and the LOB
Fast forward back to the present day, and the Seahawks are gearing up for their first Super Bowl in 11 years after winning a franchise-record 14 games in head coach Mike Macdonald’s second year at the helm. It’s been a remarkable turnaround, especially when you consider not just the changes from 2024, but a pretty drastic roster overhaul particularly on the offensive side prior to the 2025 season.
The person who pulled the strings on all of those changes, Seahawks general manager and president of football operations John Schneider, joined Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Thursday and was asked if he had gotten the sense that his team was going to rise to the top of the NFC so quickly.
Schneider responded that he “knew we were on the right track,” but it was what he said next about the feeling he had in training camp last summer with new faces at quarterback (Sam Darnold), offensive coordinator (Klint Kubiak) and on the offensive side of the coaching staff where he got a sense of the immediate success they could be in for.
“I think when I knew we were what felt like ahead of schedule was at training camp last year,” Schneider said, “where I saw how Sam was interacting with his teammates and the new offensive staff. How seamless that group was coming in here and assimilating to our culture and to coach Mike’s philosophy – ‘chasing edges’ and ’12 as one’ – and they’re buying.”
Seeing how the offense was coming together, combined with how well Seattle’s defense played down the stretch of a 10-win season in 2024, helped solidify that feeling for Schneider.
“Obviously, the way we finished the previous year with the defense, I truly believe defense wins championships. And so from that point (in training camp), offensively it did feel like we were a little bit ahead of schedule.”
Schneider also pointed to the philosophy he said the team has had since he become the GM in 2010 as why the Seahawks were able to navigate some tough decisions on their way back to prominence.
“From a team-building aspect, I’ve told you guys before, nothing’s really changed since 2010 in our quest to improve in all aspects of our football operation every single day,” he said. “And that’s being able to pivot and make hard decisions and be ready for option A, B and C, and to be able to look around the corner and see what’s coming and not feel like you’re behind the 8-ball.”
Hear the full Wyman and Bob conversation with Seahawks general manager and president of football operations John Schneider below. Catch Wyman and Bob live from 2-7 p.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports.
Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl coverage
• The Super Bowl uniforms for Seahawks and Patriots are set
• Daniel Jeremiah: Seahawks have more talent, but Pats have 3 to worry about
• Seahawks could make Super Bowl a nightmare for Pats QB Drake Maye
• Hasselbeck warns how Patriots could give Seahawks trouble in Super Bowl
• Seattle Seahawks injury report has new concern for LB Ernest Jones IV
