During his year-end press conference with the media, Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald was asked about the potential of Geno Smith being back in 2025 as the team's quarterback. The coach said he believed in Smith and saw him as the best option for the future success of the team. Macdonald added, though, that the final decision to keep Smith or release him is not up to him.
There is a common misperception of the way the Seahawks are run that Mike Macdonald makes the roster decisions. He does not. General manager John Schneider does.
This is completely different than the way the team did business between 2010 and 2023. Pete Carroll was the team's head coach, but he was also Vice President of Football Operations. Carroll had the final say over all roster decisions, while Schneider ran more of the financial side of things and made sure the team did not get crazy with the salary cap.
Mike Macdonald lays bear the truth about the decision for the Seahawks to keep Geno Smith
With Macdonald, the team has more traditional roles for the coach and GM. Schneider's job is to put the roster together, while Macdonald's job is to mold the roster into a winner. Sure, Macdonald has a lot of input on which players are working out and which are not, but whether to keep the player or release him lies with Schneider.
Macdonald rightfully pointed out in his talk with the media that "ultimately, the decision (to stick with Smith) is up to the Seahawks." He meant as an organization, and not that he is distant from decision-making in any way. It was also a clear indication that while Macdonald believes in Smith, if John Schneider no longer does then Smith could be gone this offseason.
The team would save $25 million if they released Smith. There is also the option of working out an extension with the quarterback and that would lower his cap hit for 2025. The Seahawks have literally no cap room this offseason, so the team will need to make some roster moves to create room. $25 million is a chunk of money to save.
We also will probably know if Smith is going to remain the quarterback before free agency hits in March. That decision won't be Macdonald's. It will belong to Schneider.