The Lions are leaving no stone unturned in their search for a new GM. In addition to three in-house candidates and myriad external options, including a few high-profile targets, the club is expected to make a run at Seahawks GM John Schneider, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports.
Schneider has long been considered one of the best executives in the game, and he and Pete Carroll have forged a remarkably productive GM-HC tandem since they came to Seattle in 2010. Under their leadership, the ‘Hawks have compiled a 111-63-1 record, five division titles, two NFC championships, and a Super Bowl.
But Carroll, not Schneider, has final authority over all personnel decisions. That means that a club like the Lions could interview Schneider if it offers him full control (though as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk observes, it may not be quite that simple, and Detroit may need to send compensation to Seattle if it wants to hire Schneider away). Plus, while Carroll signed a long-term extension several months ago that will run through the 2025 campaign, Schneider is only under contract through the 2022 draft, as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets. Rapoport says that, in addition to Detroit, Schneider is expected to get a call from at least one other team,
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports says the Lions would also be interested in Steelers GM Kevin Colbert. Colbert has gone year-to-year with Pittsburgh for awhile, but that’s because he wants to leave open the possibility of retirement. He plans to be back with Pittsburgh in 2021, so it looks like another one-year pact is on the horizon.
Vikings assistant GM George Paton, who has been a fixture on the GM rumor mill in recent years, is also on the Lions’ radar, per Rapoport, and there is a new and interesting connection between Minnesota and Detroit. Paton’s boss, Rick Spielman, is the brother of new Detroit exec Chris Spielman, who is expected to have an integral role in the Lions’ search process.
Not at all confident that the lions could make this happen, but if they do… wow. That would be a great hiring by them
Highly doubt this happens. It would be very Lions like to trade draft picks for a GM. As a Hawks fan, I wouldn’t want John to leave but I also think we’d be okay as we’d just hire from within out of his two top assistants.
I agree, I would be very happy to see John Schneider running the show for Detroit.
I don’t think Carroll would let Schneider leave. Schneider has been the main person responsible for finding the under the radar type talent that Seattle has thrived on for the last decade.
Carroll may have final say over personnel, but without Schneider finding hidden gems like Wilson, Wagner, Wright, Carson, Baldwin, and the entire old Legion of Boom (minus Thomas, who was a high pick), Carroll would have had a much different history in Seattle. Not to mention key free agents like Avril, Clemons, and their host of running backs who have contributed over the years. I don’t see much chance that the Seahawks let Schneider leave easily.
I think they make a great team together. Not sure how much success one would have without the other.
Well then screw it, the lions will just have to hire Carroll as head coach
Haha that’s pretty good. Might as well try?
Agreed with hawk. The tandem has been productive, and Schneider has never been one for the spotlight.
They can have the Cowboys GM…
In all seriousness, if they don’t go after an existing GM, Chris Shea (with the Chiefs) sure would be an intriguing choice to be a GM. Crazy smart and is well versed in so many aspects of what is needed to run a team.
Schneider was on the pregame radio yesterday, saying he has no interest in leaving Seattle. Of course, that’s what he needs to say but he sounded genuine to me. That said, I don’t know that he feels he ‘needs’ a challenge right now. His team is a perennial playoff team, a winner, he has great rapport with the HC (Carroll) so why would he leave for a situation like Detroit?
Hope the Lions hire Schneider as GM and then he hires a coach whose name we haven’t heard yet.