John Schneider accomplished a feat no GM had with a trip to the Super Bowl

John Schneider officially entered the NFL record books on Sunday night, but his accomplishment didn’t require him to catch a single pass or make a tackle. The General Manager of the Seattle Seahawks and the president of football operations just pulled off a front-office miracle that no other executive in league history can claim.

Following Seattle’s tight 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, NFL senior scout Dante Koplowitz-Fleming shared a staggering statistic: Schneider is the first GM to reach multiple Super Bowls with the same franchise, and with a brand new head coach and brand new roster.

Think about that for a second. From the “Legion of Boom” era under Pete Carroll to this current team leading the charge Mike Macdonaldno players remain from the Super Bowl XLVIII championship team. Schneider essentially built two completely different championship-caliber teams in the same city.

The architect’s latest masterpiece was exhibited at Lumen Field. Schneider’s bold offseason moves headlined by signing quarterback Sam Darnoldpaid huge dividends. Darnold, once written off by most of the league, played the game of his life against the Rams. He completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers.

Schneider’s draft picks also fueled the fire. Jackson Smith-Njigba, a 2023 first-round pick, looked like a superstar with 10 receptions for 153 yards and a score. Even the veterans played their part; former Rams Cooper Cup icon they caught four passes for 36 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown that gave Seattle a lead they never relinquished.

Doc Macdonald deserves credit for the Seahawks’ 14-3 regular season and top-ranked defense, Schneider provided the tools. Running back Kenneth Walker III had 111 scrimmage yards and a touchdown, embodying the physical identity Schneider prioritized during the transition.

As the Seahawks prepare to face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LKS at Levi’s Stadium, the focus remains on Schneider’s legacy. He didn’t just maintain a winning culture; he dismantled one and made a better version from scratch.