Seattle Seahawks

Early last year, Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider was asked on Seattle Sports about the concept of “Pete’s guys and John’s guys.” And with quarterback Drew Lock reportedly returning to Seattle on Friday just over a month after Geno Smith was traded to a Pete Carroll-led Raiders team, it’s a topic worth revisiting.

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At the time, the question was asked for fair reason.

Pete Carroll had a lot of decision-making power in Seattle, including over personnel – a responsibility shared with Schneider. The two always seemed to have a positive relationship, saw plenty of success together, and expressed several shared philosophies on team building. But many wondered whether a Carroll-less Seahawks team, one with Schneider instead fully responsible for decisions, would look a bit different.

“We never felt like ‘OK, it’s my guy or your guy,'” Schneider told Wyman and Bob during that episode of The John Schneider Show. “It was never like that. I heard something this morning that was like, well, Geno was really Pete’s guy. And it was like no, every time they come into the building, they’re our guy.

“That’s never been an issue, and I don’t see that going forward at all. … At the end of the day, are we still making the best decision for the Seahawks? That’s what guides us all the time.”

From the 2/15/24 John Schneider Show. This answer on “Pete’s guys vs. John’s guys” has been replaying in my head all weekend since the Geno trade to Pete’s Raiders pic.twitter.com/hrC1dQbSGl — Curtis Rogers (@AKidFromKent) March 10, 2025

I do believe that. You don’t remain an NFL coach or GM, build a Super Bowl team, nor see sustained competitiveness without being solely focused on winning. Collaboration between many voices is a common thread in any front office. But questions about player usage or loyalty had long predated Carroll’s departure, and the most recent was the battle between Smith and Lock to be Seattle’s starting QB in 2023.

That spring following the trade of Russell Wilson to Denver, the Seahawks’ quarterback situation was pitched as a battle between the two nationally. By summer, anyone at camp could see what was happening. Smith was getting the vast majority of first team reps, and it was his job to lose.

That’s not weird or unfair. No NFL team wants to enter a season without knowing who their starting quarterback is, and Carroll had clear faith in Smith. Why wouldn’t he? Smith was older and had a history with Carroll and his culture in Seattle, having backed up Wilson for two seasons. There was some loyalty, sure. But nothing matters more than winning in the NFL, and if Lock was truly outperforming Smith on the field and in the film room, he would’ve been starting.

But in another world, would Schneider have wanted to see a few more reps for Lock? Have there been other players acquired by Seattle’s front office that might’ve been odd fits, or even underutilized, by the coaching staff? It’s easy to believe Schneider’s denial of that sort of thinking, but equally as hard not to wonder whether two smart football minds with lots of decision-making power might have ever disagreed.

You can’t blame Seattle for not breaking contract precedent for Smith, but Carroll’s Raiders being willing to certainly speaks to differences in the relationship.

Related: Seahawks GM addresses Geno Smith’s recent comments

“Absolutely, 100%, this is confirmation that there existed in the 2023 locker room Pete Carroll guys and John Schneider guys,” Seattle Sports’ Curtis Rogers said on Bump and Stacy following the news of Lock’s return to Seattle. “You look at where the Seahawks are in 2025 compared to where they were at the end of the 2023 season — that was with Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator. This is now two offensive coordinators removed from when Lock was here.

“This is simply a vibes move. This is John Schneider bringing in somebody that he’s comfortable with.”

Seattle Seahawks offseason coverage

• Insider: The best run-blocking guard in the draft for Seahawks

• Bump’s Take: Two draft QBs reported to visit Seahawks

• How Sam Darnold and Geno Smith’s new contracts compare

• Brock’s Seahawks Draft Profile: Why Michigan TE is possibility at No. 18

• Daniel Jeremiah: The ‘sweet spot’ for Seattle Seahawks to draft a WR

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