Category Archives: Franchise history

Franchise history

How Russ went from lovable underdog to unlikeable loser

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It looks like Russell Wilson has decided it is time to move on from football – at least on the field.

The Seahawks legend, whose career flamed out with three teams over the past four years, is going to join Nate Burleson and the gang on “The NFL Today.”

This was hinted at last month, when Wilson was in the news a bunch — and the jokes flew fast and furious. He looked overweight in a cameo with the Savannah Bananas, like he had eaten one too many banana splits. He then had a visit with the Jets about possibly doing a role reversal and backing up Geno Smith, his former understudy in Seattle. And then he was reported to be in advanced talks to replace Matt Ryan on “The NFL Today” – which is where he apparently is now headed.

It sounds like he would love to play, if a team gets desperate. But otherwise this seems like a move to retirement, driven by the fact that he is no longer an effective player at age 37.

Continue reading How Russ went from lovable underdog to unlikeable loser →
Franchise history, On the air

Diggs talks about his Seattle circle of life and end of Carroll era

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One of the cool things about the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl in February was the longtime veterans who got rings out of it.

Some of the thirtysomethings — Jason Myers, Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence and Jarran Reed – played huge roles. Then there were former Seahawks whom John Schneider and Mike Macdonald brought back – like Shaq Griffin and Quandre Diggs – who were mostly along for the ride. Macdonald got them the rings that Pete Carroll could not.

Diggs recently talked to Brian Nemhauser (HawkBlogger) about why the Carroll era ended, why he followed Carroll out the door in 2024 and why he wanted to come back last November even though he knew his on-field role might be minimal.

Let’s walk through Diggs’ journey, from the 2019 trade that brought him to Seattle to the end of the Carroll era and Diggs’ return for a shot at the Super Bowl.

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#LARvsSEA, Franchise history

Why it took so long for Schneider to win the exec award

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John Schneider was named executive of the year for the first time Thursday, and a lot of people are saying, “It’s about time” – as if Schneider has deserved it annually for years.

But the fact is he has not really merited the award since he helped create the last Super Bowl roster for Seattle. That was way back in 2012-13.

He did not win it back then because he had steadily created that team over four years – with the historically stellar 2010-12 drafts and a couple of inexplicably fortuitous signings in 2013 that put the Hawks over the top.

Continue reading Why it took so long for Schneider to win the exec award →
Franchise history, The roster, Trades

How Schneider built a Super Bowl contender as fans called for his firing

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After the 2024 season, a lot of Seahawks fans wanted John Schneider to be fired. They were understandably tired of his failure to put together an even average offensive line throughout his 15 years as general manager, and they were annoyed by a 2024 offseason that seemingly had done little to help the franchise.

It’s surprising how quickly things can change. Amid a 7-2 start that has featured major contributions from half a dozen new players and proven that Sam Darnold is indeed a franchise quarterback, Schneider has been getting a lot of credit.

In fact, in a survey of 42 NFL decision makers by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, 23 voted him as the executive of the year at the midseason point.

Continue reading How Schneider built a Super Bowl contender as fans called for his firing →
#TBvsSEA, Franchise history

It’s a full-circle weekend for Egbuka, the Bucs, Hawks and Mariners

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This weekend is all about the past meeting the present as the Seahawks face the Bucs in their 50th anniversary seasons and the Mariners host their first playoff games since 2001.

Emeka Egbuka apparently ties it all together.

Before he was Tampa Bay’s first-round receiver this year, Egbuka was a youth baseball star who threw out the first pitch at Safeco Field (now T-Mobile Park) in 2011. Then he was on the same Ohio State team as Jaxon Smith Njigba.

Egbuka will return to Seattle to face JSN as the Bucs and Seahawks square off in a big battle of 3-1 teams on Sunday, before the Mariners play Game 2 of their division series.

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Coaches, Franchise history, State of the team

Hawks are setting up for another 2012-13 run

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We haven’t seen Sam Darnold and the starting skill players in action yet – that apparently will happen a bit this week against the Chiefs – but the first preseason game showed everything we need to know about what this Seattle offense is trying to do.

If it succeeds, as we expect it to, the Seahawks should be well poised to repeat their 2011-13 ascent and come away with a Super Bowl trophy in Mike Macdonald’s third year (like Pete Carroll did in his fourth year).

Let’s run through the similarities that make us think this is how it is going to go.

Continue reading Hawks are setting up for another 2012-13 run →
Franchise history, NFL draft, The roster

Will Schneider deliver the dream: O-line consistency?

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Whether it has been draft misses, bad (or no) free-agent signings, poor coaching or injuries, Seattle just has not fielded a good offensive line during the majority of John Schneider’s tenure – that’s 15 seasons of mostly bottom-10 rankings.

Despite another whiff in free agency in 2025, Schneider has a chance to turn that around. But he needs to do something he has tried only a couple of times: Create continuity with top talent.

We’d call that living the dream.

Continue reading Will Schneider deliver the dream: O-line consistency? →
Franchise history, NFL draft, The roster

Is a new homegrown defense in the offing?

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Byron Murphy said he loved watching the Legion of Boom Seahawks when he was a kid. (For some of us a decade is not that long ago, but for a 21-year-old it was half his lifetime ago.)

The LOB was a dominant defense with a core that John Schneider put together mostly through the 2010-12 drafts: Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, K.J. Wright, Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner, Bruce Irvin. Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett (Murphy’s favorite player on that defense) were the only core outside additions. And that group of stars dominated the NFL from 2012 to 2016.

Schneider has not been able to replicate that magic over the past decade. He had the perfect chance to do it again in 2016 and 2017, but he absolutely whiffed on most of his 11 picks on Days 1 and 2. Ever since those failures, he has been patching together his defense with trades for veterans.

But, thanks to three straight years with high picks in the draft, maybe he finally is building another core – this time for Mike Macdonald.

Continue reading Is a new homegrown defense in the offing? →
Franchise history, NFL draft

Will Schneider draft a guard who can start as a rookie?

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John Schneider could have afforded a top free-agent guard, but it’s a position he thinks is overpaid – and now he absolutely has to draft a guy who is capable of pushing for a starting spot as a rookie.

Seemingly 90% of mock drafts have him doing exactly that with the 16th pick, taking Washington star Troy Fautanu. Mike Macdonald wants to be “a physical football team” and Fautanu certainly would help that happen.

But Schneider also thinks guards “get overdrafted,” and he recently signed former Jets starter Laken Tomlinson. So, unless Macdonald and Ryan Grubb (Fautanu’s OC at UW) really want Schneider to take Fautanu – and the lineman is there at 16 – it sure looks like Schneider will be angling to grab a guard later in the draft.

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Franchise history, NFL draft

History says Schneider should stick and pick

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The draft is next week, and John Schneider and his Seahawks have to figure out one big thing: Where are the ledges?

It’s the key to anything Schneider will do in this selection meeting. And he needs to tread carefully, lest he fall off the cliff again.

Schneider has not made a draft-day deal involving a first-round pick since 2019, but he will be tempted to do it this time after sending his second-rounder to the Giants for Leonard Williams and a third-rounder in the deal to get Sam Howell from Washington.

At 16, Schneider is sitting right in the crosshairs — and he knows it.

Continue reading History says Schneider should stick and pick →