keasley45
Well-known member
As much praise as their is going around to all of our players and coaches, there isn't enough that can be bestowed upon our GM.
It was barely 2 years ago that he stood in the crowd in tears listening to a friend, partner and mentor in Pete Carroll announce his resignation, his regret, and offer thanks to the organization, to John the coaches and players for the opportunity he was given to pilot this team.
That couldn't have been easy. But John handled it all with dignity, gratitude, and determination to get this team back to where he wanted it to be. He learned a ton from Pete on how to build culture and what to look for in people to get it done. He also learned a lot about how to win... And how NOT to in the years that followed out metioric rise ... And fall from the heights of the sport.
I remember the first time I felt the difference in direction between Pete and John was when the story broke in 2020 by an anonymous player (Sherm) who laid out the fact that John wanted to part ways with Russ, against Pete's desires and actually tried to trade him.
As much as I liked Pete, that story began my shift toward thinking we might need a new direction. Pete had obviously softened and was seeming as though he'd lost his edge and objectivity in player evaluation. 2 years later, after Wilson was traded and Pete and John were being peppered with questions about how they saw Championship ball returning to the franchise, Pete was his typical, 'compete' self, while John, likely emboldened by the mandate Jody gave them both to fix things, struck a more direct, more confident and inspired tone. John acknowledge that the team had lost its intimidation factor, that it had gotten soft, and said we needed to get back to the aggressive, tone setting play that put us on the map in the first place. It was subtle, but you could feel that post Russ, there were two competing ideas about how to assemble a winning team... And as it turned out 2 years later when Pete was let go... How to lead it.
John waited patiently and deferred to Pete for years while he watched the slow decline of the team around a coach who could no longer see his errors and a QB who could no longer work around his own flaws.
Liberated from both, he turned trades into stars, he brought in THE coach who embodied both the culture building knowledge that was so central to Pete's program AND the aggressive, no surrender, dominate your opponent attitude he himself stated was missing.
He built a roster of bullies and badasses - a blend of raw, untamed talent and tried and true veteran skill. And he went out and got a QB who was a smart enough to play the game at a high level and talented enough to make the plays when needed.
John waited for 10 years to get the chance to execute HIS vision for what this team could be.
He learned from Pete's successes and failures. He sat patiently doing what he could while he worked in deference to his boss, working WITH him, loyally, patiently, until the road ran out.
When he was finally given the reigns, he knew EXACTLY what to do with them.
Our country could learn a little bit from John Schneider and this FO about how to transfer power, tradition, culture and success peacefully and with gratitude for what your predecessor accomplished, while also, respectfully setting a path to correct those things that were failing. He did it with admiration for Pete, a love for this team and this city, and an undying commitment to build not just a winning team, but a winning culture where success is defined as much by belief in the man (and fan) next to you as it is on football accumin or combine numbers.
John Schneider SHOULD have won Exec of the year a dozen years ago for helping to create what should have been a dynasty. He without doubt is the most deserving candidate for that honor now. If he doesn't win it, there is something terribly wrong with the system.
And now, just as Pete's impact across this league was felt in how teams in the NFL practice and prepare week in and week out, NFL owners will without a doubt look again to the PNW to OUR leadership to understand how you build a champion.
I have said it before and I know it 2000% to be true - there is something special about sports and football in particular in the PNW. I felt it as a boy of 8 when I had the chance to go to my first Seahawks game in 1982 - the setting, the humbleness, ferocity and intelligence of the fans. The legendary players who pulled on Seahawks blue green and silver over the years and put on masterclasses at their positions while the media's attention was everywhere but in Seattle. I can't think of many franchises in sport (any sport) who have maintained such a level of excellence (even if often only individual) and success - in some instances game changing success - while literally no one was looking... nor thought to care.
We are the home of 'the wave'.
Zorn to Largent
Krieg to Largent
Largent to Mike Harden
Ground Chuck Knox - our first HOF coach
Kenny Easley
Tez
Warner
Paul Allen - Our Savior, RIP
Big Walt
Hutch
The Big Show - our second HOF Coach
We want the Ball and we are going to score ...
Hasselbeck
Alexander
Pete - our 3rd HOF coach
Russ
Beastmode
Beast Quake
I'm only here so I don't get fined
BWags
Sherm
Earl
ADB
LOB forever
We changed the way defense was played post LOB
We forced rules changes to combat our domination.
We changed the way teams practiced.
We changed the way scouts evaluated DBs.
And now... Next chapter. Same as the last chapter, with a new set of players and new leadership at HC. How many of the new cast will join the roster of legends?
Emanwori
Williams
Murphy
Jones III
Darnold
JSN
Zabel
Cross
Lucas
Kupp
Walker
Love
Lawrence
MacDonald
Culture setting leadership.Tone setting, standard setting play.
Play that has seen the upstart team who joined the league a relatively short time ago in NFL years, make 10 % of the divisional championship games since joining in 1976.
In the last 20 years, we have represented the NFC in the superbowl 20% of the time. Those are massive numbers for a team that no one in the media wants to talk about. And John Schneider has been here building that success, quietly, humbly, but with a tenacity apparent in the way in which his team plays the game.
As much as we thank Paul for keeping football in Seattle, I think we need to start to recognize John Schneider for what he has built with the team Paul saved.
Championship play existed in Seattle before John got here, but Championships didn't. John IS championship football in Seattle. He embodies all of the characteristics the team has come to embrace, from its coaches to its players. Tenacity. Togetheness. Humility. Confidence. Grace. Ferocity. Commitment to each other. Commitment to excellence.
Winning.
Thank you John Schneider.
It was barely 2 years ago that he stood in the crowd in tears listening to a friend, partner and mentor in Pete Carroll announce his resignation, his regret, and offer thanks to the organization, to John the coaches and players for the opportunity he was given to pilot this team.
That couldn't have been easy. But John handled it all with dignity, gratitude, and determination to get this team back to where he wanted it to be. He learned a ton from Pete on how to build culture and what to look for in people to get it done. He also learned a lot about how to win... And how NOT to in the years that followed out metioric rise ... And fall from the heights of the sport.
I remember the first time I felt the difference in direction between Pete and John was when the story broke in 2020 by an anonymous player (Sherm) who laid out the fact that John wanted to part ways with Russ, against Pete's desires and actually tried to trade him.
As much as I liked Pete, that story began my shift toward thinking we might need a new direction. Pete had obviously softened and was seeming as though he'd lost his edge and objectivity in player evaluation. 2 years later, after Wilson was traded and Pete and John were being peppered with questions about how they saw Championship ball returning to the franchise, Pete was his typical, 'compete' self, while John, likely emboldened by the mandate Jody gave them both to fix things, struck a more direct, more confident and inspired tone. John acknowledge that the team had lost its intimidation factor, that it had gotten soft, and said we needed to get back to the aggressive, tone setting play that put us on the map in the first place. It was subtle, but you could feel that post Russ, there were two competing ideas about how to assemble a winning team... And as it turned out 2 years later when Pete was let go... How to lead it.
John waited patiently and deferred to Pete for years while he watched the slow decline of the team around a coach who could no longer see his errors and a QB who could no longer work around his own flaws.
Liberated from both, he turned trades into stars, he brought in THE coach who embodied both the culture building knowledge that was so central to Pete's program AND the aggressive, no surrender, dominate your opponent attitude he himself stated was missing.
He built a roster of bullies and badasses - a blend of raw, untamed talent and tried and true veteran skill. And he went out and got a QB who was a smart enough to play the game at a high level and talented enough to make the plays when needed.
John waited for 10 years to get the chance to execute HIS vision for what this team could be.
He learned from Pete's successes and failures. He sat patiently doing what he could while he worked in deference to his boss, working WITH him, loyally, patiently, until the road ran out.
When he was finally given the reigns, he knew EXACTLY what to do with them.
Our country could learn a little bit from John Schneider and this FO about how to transfer power, tradition, culture and success peacefully and with gratitude for what your predecessor accomplished, while also, respectfully setting a path to correct those things that were failing. He did it with admiration for Pete, a love for this team and this city, and an undying commitment to build not just a winning team, but a winning culture where success is defined as much by belief in the man (and fan) next to you as it is on football accumin or combine numbers.
John Schneider SHOULD have won Exec of the year a dozen years ago for helping to create what should have been a dynasty. He without doubt is the most deserving candidate for that honor now. If he doesn't win it, there is something terribly wrong with the system.
And now, just as Pete's impact across this league was felt in how teams in the NFL practice and prepare week in and week out, NFL owners will without a doubt look again to the PNW to OUR leadership to understand how you build a champion.
I have said it before and I know it 2000% to be true - there is something special about sports and football in particular in the PNW. I felt it as a boy of 8 when I had the chance to go to my first Seahawks game in 1982 - the setting, the humbleness, ferocity and intelligence of the fans. The legendary players who pulled on Seahawks blue green and silver over the years and put on masterclasses at their positions while the media's attention was everywhere but in Seattle. I can't think of many franchises in sport (any sport) who have maintained such a level of excellence (even if often only individual) and success - in some instances game changing success - while literally no one was looking... nor thought to care.
We are the home of 'the wave'.
Zorn to Largent
Krieg to Largent
Largent to Mike Harden
Ground Chuck Knox - our first HOF coach
Kenny Easley
Tez
Warner
Paul Allen - Our Savior, RIP
Big Walt
Hutch
The Big Show - our second HOF Coach
We want the Ball and we are going to score ...
Hasselbeck
Alexander
Pete - our 3rd HOF coach
Russ
Beastmode
Beast Quake
I'm only here so I don't get fined
BWags
Sherm
Earl
ADB
LOB forever
We changed the way defense was played post LOB
We forced rules changes to combat our domination.
We changed the way teams practiced.
We changed the way scouts evaluated DBs.
And now... Next chapter. Same as the last chapter, with a new set of players and new leadership at HC. How many of the new cast will join the roster of legends?
Emanwori
Williams
Murphy
Jones III
Darnold
JSN
Zabel
Cross
Lucas
Kupp
Walker
Love
Lawrence
MacDonald
Culture setting leadership.Tone setting, standard setting play.
Play that has seen the upstart team who joined the league a relatively short time ago in NFL years, make 10 % of the divisional championship games since joining in 1976.
In the last 20 years, we have represented the NFC in the superbowl 20% of the time. Those are massive numbers for a team that no one in the media wants to talk about. And John Schneider has been here building that success, quietly, humbly, but with a tenacity apparent in the way in which his team plays the game.
As much as we thank Paul for keeping football in Seattle, I think we need to start to recognize John Schneider for what he has built with the team Paul saved.
Championship play existed in Seattle before John got here, but Championships didn't. John IS championship football in Seattle. He embodies all of the characteristics the team has come to embrace, from its coaches to its players. Tenacity. Togetheness. Humility. Confidence. Grace. Ferocity. Commitment to each other. Commitment to excellence.
Winning.
Thank you John Schneider.
