INDIANAPOLIS — As the Seattle Seahawks gear up for an ambitious bid to become only the third team this century to repeat as Super Bowl champions, general manager John Schneider insisted Tuesday that the looming sale of the franchise won't disrupt the team's offseason operations.
Speaking to reporters at the NFL combine here, Schneider addressed the ownership transition six days after Jody Allen, chair of the estate of her late brother Paul Allen, announced the Seahawks are officially on the market. The estate estimated the sale process could extend through the 2026 offseason, but no potential buyers have surfaced yet.
"No," Schneider said when asked if the sale would affect his day-to-day responsibilities, including time demands or budget constraints. He recounted a recent conversation with Allen, who encouraged the team to push forward aggressively. "I had a great talk with Jody the other night and she's like, 'Let's go for it, let's rip it.' It's just business as usual for us. Business as usual and all football."
Schneider, who has led the Seahawks' front office since 2010, emphasized that the focus remains squarely on retaining the core of the roster that delivered Seattle's second Lombardi Trophy. The team capped a remarkable season with a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, setting a franchise record with 14 regular-season wins and three playoff triumphs.
However, the path to a repeat won't be straightforward. Six key contributors are headed to unrestricted free agency, headlined by running back Kenneth Walker III, who earned MVP honors in the Super Bowl clincher. Also departing the fold potentially are wide receiver and Pro Bowl kick returner Rashid Shaheed, cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe, safety Coby Bryant, and outside linebacker Boye Mafe.
"It's going to be a challenge to figure this year's puzzle out," Schneider acknowledged. "It's a really cool team and they're all special people. So we're going to try to retain as many of those guys as we possibly can. As long as we can keep that ... that collective 70 together."
He referred to the team's broader roster of 70 players — comprising 53 active spots and 17 on the practice squad — as the "collective 70," underscoring a holistic approach to free agency decisions. Regarding Walker specifically, Schneider expressed a desire to bring him back but framed it within the team's overall strategy. "We'd love to have Ken back, and he knows this better than anybody — it's about our 70 and our collective and what that's going to look like," he said. "We'll have those meetings down here. We'll start talking to all the agents and we'll have a better feel of where we're going towards the end of the week. We want to have everybody back. Right when you get done with something special like that, you're like, 'Let's run it back. Let's run it back.' It's going to be an interesting process."
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last week that the Seahawks do not intend to use the franchise or transition tag on Walker, a move that would have kept him off the open market. Schneider declined to comment on the tagging possibility during his combine remarks.
The financial picture offers some optimism amid the uncertainties. According to OverTheCap.com, Seattle enters the offseason with approximately $59 million in effective cap space, ranking sixth league-wide. That buffer could prove crucial as the team navigates not only its free agents but also looming contract extensions for rising stars.
Cornerback Devon Witherspoon and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, both first-round selections from the 2023 draft, are eligible for new deals that could elevate them to the top of the positional pay scales. Schneider confirmed that the organization's policy against restructuring contracts with more than one year remaining won't hinder those negotiations this offseason. He noted that 2027 could serve as an option year if the team exercises its fifth-year option on either player.
That same rule, however, will apply to quarterback Sam Darnold, who signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract last March and has two seasons left on the deal. Any adjustments to his pact would need to wait until the final year.
Adding another layer of complexity is the status of 33-year-old defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, whose potential retirement remains unresolved. Lawrence, a veteran presence on the defensive line, contributed significantly to Seattle's playoff run, but his future plans have not been clarified.
To prepare for the ownership shift, Schneider plans to consult with Denver Broncos general manager George Paton this week. Paton navigated a similar process in 2022 when the Broncos were sold to a group led by Walmart heir Rob Walton. Schneider answered "no" when asked if he anticipates changes in the team's free agency spending due to the sale.
He also expressed uncertainty about Allen's role heading into next season. As the estate's chairperson, Allen has controlled the team since Paul's death in 2018, but the sale's timeline leaves open the possibility of new ownership before the 2025 campaign begins.
The Seahawks' quest for a repeat carries historical weight. Only the New England Patriots (2003-04) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2005-06, though not consecutive) have achieved back-to-back Super Bowl titles in the 21st century. Seattle's 2024 success built on a resurgent defense and balanced offense, but losing even a portion of the free agent class could test Schneider's roster-building acumen.
Looking ahead, Schneider and his staff will intensify agent discussions at the combine, aiming to lock in extensions and re-signings before the free agency period opens in March. The sale process, while in the background, looms as a wildcard that could influence long-term planning, even if daily operations proceed uninterrupted.
For now, the mantra in Seattle's front office is clear: football first. As the team eyes another deep playoff run, Schneider's optimism reflects a franchise determined to build on its championship foundation, ownership uncertainties notwithstanding.