Matt Berry and Willie Schneider were both promoted to assistant general manager, two of several title changes heading into the 2026 season that were announced by the Seahawks on Wednesday.
Berry and Schneider step into that role under general manager and president of football operations John Schneider following the departure of former assistant general manager Nolan Teasley, who was named the general manager of the Vikings earlier this offseason.
Here is the full list of new titles announced by the Seahawks:
- Matt Berry – Assistant General Manager
- Willie Schneider - Assistant General Manager
- Aaron Hineline – Director of Player Personnel
- Armani Perez – Director of Pro Personnel
- Jason Barnes – Director of College Scouting
- Patrick Ward – Vice President/Research & Analytics
All six played big roles in helping John Schneider build the team that won Super Bowl LX earlier this year, and Berry, Hineline and Barnes were also part of the front office that built the Super Bowl XLVIII winning squad. Since Schneider took over as general manager in 2010, the Seahawks have reached the postseason 11 times in 16 seasons, winning six NFC West titles, three NFC championships and two Super Bowls. In 16 seasons under Schneider the Seahawks have drafted 16 players who have been named to the Pro Bowl, and 11 who have earned AP All-Pro honors. Additionally, 20 players acquired via free agency or trades have earned Pro-Bowl honors over that span, while six have been named first or second-team All-Pro.
In his new role as the Vikings' GM, Teasley is bringing two members of Seattle's front office to Minnesota with him, hiring former Seahawks vice president of player personnel Trent Kirchner and pro scout Azzaam Kapadia.
"I wish Nolan, Trent and Azzaam well in Minnesota, and I'm excited to be able to promote from within to maintain the culture and continuity in the personnel department," John Schneider said. "I love our core group of guys and we all enjoy working together as we spend so much time building this team throughout the year."
Berry, who first joined the Seahawks as an area scout in 2008, then became a national scout in 2014 before being promoted to director of college scouting in 2015, then to vice president of player acquisition in 2023.
Willie Schneider, who since 2023 has held the title of director of pro scouting, began his Seahawks career as an intern, working with both the personnel department and the coaching staff, then became the assistant director of pro personnel.
Hineline, a Woodinville native and Central Washington University grad, joined the Seahawks as an intern in 2006 and worked in the pro personnel department for four years before moving to college scouting. In 2023, he was promoted from assistant director of college scouting to director of college scouting.
Perez, who began his Seahawks career as a scouting intern in 2019, then was named a pro scouting personnel assistant in 2021 before becoming the assistant director of pro personnel in 2023.
Barnes, who is heading into his 21st season with the Seahawks, began in pro scouting for three years before moving to the college scouting department. Most recently he served as assistant director of college scouting.
Ward, who leads the team's research and analytics department, previously held the title of director of research and analytics prior to this promotion to vice president.
