Good afternoon, 12s. Here's a look at what's going on out there and any news you might have missed about your Seattle Seahawks.
With the player personnel department and coaching staff back from the NFL scouting combine, the Seahawks turn their attention towards free agency, which starts next week. Teams can begin negotiating with free agents starting on Monday morning, then the new league year officially kicks off on Wednesday at 1 p.m. PT.
Seahawks general manager and president of football operations John Schneider provided some insight on free agency on Thursday during his weekly appearance on Seattle Sports 710AM, while head coach Mike Macdonald joined Pardon My Take for an interview that showed off a bit more of Macdonald's sense of humor. Here's more from those two interviews, plus other things you might have missed this week.
John Schneider talks free agency on Seattle Sports 710AM.
Every NFL team hopes to get better when free agency kicks off, be it by acquiring new players or by re-signing their own. Last March, the Seahawks nailed that process, making some big changes via trades and free agency, including the additions of quarterback Sam Darnold, receiver Cooper Kupp and outside linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence, all of whom played a big role in the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl.
We'll have to wait and see what the Seahawks get done this spring, but what is certain is that there will be some changes to the roster, that's just how things work in the NFL. As Schneider noted, there's a human element in all of these transactions.
"Your empathy level at this time of year is through the roof," Schneider said. "There's so many amazing people that take of these guys, the trainers, people in the cafeteria, the equipment staff, video… There's this cool bond you have, and it's just hard. But at some point, you have to make these decisions and keep putting the best 70 players together and moving forward."
Schneider brought up the example of the team having to cut defensive end Chris Clemons for salary cap reasons not long after he was part of a Super Bowl winning team.
"We had a great relationship, he's a great guy, then it's a cap casualty thing," Schneider said. "That stuff's hard, it's part of our job. What guides us is, what's best for the organization, what's best for the organization, what's best for the organization?"
Schneider also gave some insight in how decisions are made when it comes to spending those free-agent dollars.
"I hate this time of year where people are talking about, 'Well, he's not worth this, he's not worth that,'" Schneider said. "We don't look at it as worth. It's, what's the guy's value for us? His value around the league, that's that; what's his value for us and how do we fit that into our budget, to keeping the whole 70 together. Having the best 53-man roster, the best 70 guys, what does that look like in totality? Ranking players, this guy's better than that player, that's more for the draft, really. This is more, how can we maximize his earning power as well as keeping as many people together as we possibly can? It's trying to keep as many people happy as we possibly can and maximizing guys' earning power, and still having cap room, a little bit of cash for when you get to the trade deadline so you can still do things at that type of year because then you have a little bit better feel for where you're going and what your team looks like."
Mike Macdonald joins Pardon My Take.
Among the many interviews Macdonald did at the NFL Scouting Combine was a long conversation with Pardon My Take for a podcast that aired earlier this week. Keeping with the theme of that show, it was an often lighthearted interview that brought out Macdonald's sense of humor.
Among the topics was Macdonald's interview with King 5 in which his comments about spending extra time with his 1-year-old son, Jack, went viral. In the interview Macdonald explained that he was spending less time in the office during the 2025 season, including an extra half hour on Thursday he dedicated to spending time with his son. That was then clipped and turned into graphics making it sound like Macdonald spent a total of 30 minutes with his son each week.
Early in the interview, Dan Katz sarcastically asks Macdonald what it was like to meet his son this offseason, to which Macdonald quips, "It was epic."
As for his comments in that King 5 interview, Macdonald said, "It was an extra 30 minutes on Thursday, that's what I was trying to say; it didn't come across that way."
Macdonald also shared why he is uncomfortable being called a football genius.
"You couldn't say anything to make me any more uncomfortable," he said. "It takes away from what the players do. That's what makes it uncomfortable. You watch our guys, play you watch what they do to make it come to life, they're the ones that do it."
Macdonald was also asked to bark two times, a question prompted by AJ Barner, and Macdonald obliged.
Listen to the full interview here or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also watch the interview on Netflix.
Are the 2025 Seahawks "one of the all-time great teams?"
Talking with Rich Eisen at the combine, Macdonald noted that the Super Bowl-winning 2025 team "deserve to be recognized as one of the all-time great teams, great performances."
It's a big statement, but Macdonald might be onto something. Here's just some of the case to back up that statement.
- First, the obvious, the Seahawks won Super Bowl LX, and did it in dominant fashion. A 29-13 final score might not look like a blowout on paper, but thanks to a suffocating defensive performance—through three quarters, Patriots had no points, five first downs, eight punts, a turnover and just 78 total yards—the Seahawks were in control the entire game.
- There's also the path the Seahawks took to get to the Super Bowl. Despite a great regular season, the Seahawks never had the luxury of taking their foot off the gas thanks to a division that produced two other 12-win teams, the Rams and the 49ers. Starting in Week 16, the Seahawks played the Rams in a huge game with playoff implications, a road game against the eventual NFC South champion Panthers, a regular-season finale against the 49ers with the division title and the No. 1 seed on the line, a divisional round game against those same 49ers, who had 13 wins, postseason included, an NFC West championship showdown with the Rams, and a Super Bowl showdown with the Patriots, who went 14-3 in the regular season, scoring the second most points in the league while ranking third in total yards. The Seahawks, of course, won all six of those games, four of them by double-digit margins, part of a 10-game winning streak to close out the season.
- By going through the 49ers, Rams and Patriots in the postseason, the Seahawks became the first No. 1 seed to beat three teams with 12 or more regular-season wins in the postseason.
- The Seahawks posted their most wins (14), road wins (8) and scored the most points (483) in franchise history.
- The Seahawks were a complete team, allowing the fewest points in the NFL (17.2), scoring the third most (28.4), and were also one of the league's best on special teams.
- Seattle's plus-191 point differential in the regular season led the NFL and was the best in franchise history, and including the playoffs, their plus 246 differential was the best by a Super Bowl champion since the 1999 St. Louis Rams.
Seahawks Mailbag: Free Agency, Offseason Priorities & More
After a short break, the Seahawks mailbag is back this week, covering everything from free agency to other offseason priorities to where the 2025 team stacks up, from a historic standpoint. Read the full mailbag here.
Social Post Of The Week
The Seahawks hung a new banner inside their indoor practice facility. There's still one more big one to come, however.
More From Around The Web
Bob Condotta, the Seattle Times: Seahawks have decision to make on these restricted free agents
Jeff Howe, The Athletic: The Seahawks’ blueprint? Good luck trying to follow it
Seattle Sports Station: Bump: Why Seahawks can replace free agent losses on defense
Emerald City Spectrum: Analysis: 5 Ways Seahawks Can Bolster Pass Rush as John Schneider Explores Options
The NFL Combine gives the nation's best draft prospects an opportunity to showcase their talents ahead of the NFL Draft. Check out some of the best photos of current Seahawks players at the NFL Combine.
Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III (32) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III (32) participates in the broad jump at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III (32) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III (32) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Michigan State running back Kenny Walker III participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mississippi State offensive lineman Charles Cross jumps before he runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mississippi State offensive lineman Charles Cross runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
FILE - Mississippi State offensive lineman Charles Cross runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. Charles Cross is a possible pick in the NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Mississippi State offensive lineman Charles Cross (06) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Mississippi State offensive lineman Charles Cross runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Washington State offensive lineman Abraham Lucas (30) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Washington State offensive lineman Abraham Lucas runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Washington State offensive lineman Abraham Lucas runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Washington State offensive lineman Abraham Lucas (30) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Washington State offensive lineman Abraham Lucas (30) participates in the broad jump at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams runs a drill during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, February 22, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams jumps before running the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UTSA defensive back Tariq Woolen runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
UTSA defensive back Tariq Woolen runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTSA defensive back Tariq Woolen runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTSA defensive back Tariq Woolen participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
UTSA defensive back Tariq Woolen runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Purdue offensive lineman Marcus Mbow, left, and North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel lifts weights at the NFL football scouting combine Monday, March 3, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan tight end AJ Barner runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori lifts weights at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Michigan tight end AJ Barner runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan tight end AJ Barner runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold runs a drill during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold participates in the broad jump during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold participates in the broad jump during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold (5) with the quarterbacks during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold looks on during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
USC quarterback Sam Darnold runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold is seen at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp is seen in a drill at the 2017 NFL football scouting combine Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
