When the Seattle Seahawks relieved Pete Carroll of many of his duties after the 2023 season, it meant the organization was turning away from more than a decade of how it had done business. Carroll had a year left on his guaranteed contract and stayed on as an advisor, but he didn't really do anything. Instead, general manager John Schneider took his most important role.
That was overseeing the roster, and having the players that he thinks will win games instead of the ones Carroll thought would make the team a success. His first offseason fully in charge was 2024, and that was meh at best. 2025 has been a completely different story.
One move made in the season was acquiring wide receiver Rashid Shaheed at the trade deadline. At the time, the move seemed interesting, but not transformative. In the past three weeks, we know the truth: Schneider's deal for Shaheed was a stroke of brilliance.
Seattle Seahawks were right to elevate John Schneider and dismiss Pete Carroll
It isn't necessarily only one facet of Shaheed's game that is helping Seattle trend toward having the best record in the NFC. His versatility is what has made him special, and, in turn, the team. In Week 16, he didn't catch a pass and was targeted just once, but he entirely changed the tenor of the game and maybe the NFC West race.
With Seattle trailing 30-14 in what looked to be another loss to the Los Angeles Rams, LA did something they had avoided the entire game: They punted the ball to Shaheed. He caught the ball and ran 58 yards for a touchdown. With the 2-point conversion, the score was suddenly 30-22, and Seattle had a real chance.
If not for Shaheed, the Seahawks lose the game, and maybe badly. His touchdown allowed the Lumen Field crowd to get back into the game and got the score close enough for the Seahawks to have a chance.
But if not for John Schneider eschewing calls to trade for a right guard at the deadline and instead getting Rashid Shaheed, the general manager proved he is one of the best GMs in the NFL. Again. Not only did he take over what Carroll was doing (and failing at as Carroll's last few drafts were not overly good), but he has done it better.
The strength and belief it took to drastically change the offense this past offseason by trading quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf is one thing. To do the more unsung moves of acquiring players like Shaheed, though, defines seasons.