NFL rumors: The Detroit Lions cleaned house earlier this season, firing general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia. With the NFL offseason about to begin, the Lions could be eyeing a huge move that would shake up the NFL.
While much of the focus on Detroit’s vacancies centers on the head coach, the search for a new general manager is already underway. The Lions have interviewed multiple candidates, but it seems they’ve got their eye on poaching one of the most respected general managers in the NFL.
NFL rumors: Lions targeting Seahawks GM John Schneider to oversee football operations
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Detroit Lions intend to pursue Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider for the team’s vacant position this offseason.
Typically, NFL rules would prevent the Lions from going after another team’s general manager. However, per Rapoport, Schneider doesn’t have full control over Seattle’s football operations. He shares that authority with head coach Pete Carroll, with the two making collective decisions on the roster, the NFL Draft and free agency.
Schneider is also only under contract with the Seahawks for the 2021 season. Carroll received his extension first, signing a deal that will keep him in Seattle through 2025.
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Seattle’s 49-year-old general manager has helped build a perennial contender in the NFC. A Wisconsin native, he won Super Bowl XXXI and XLVIII. Since entering the league as a scout with the Green Bay Packers (19930-’96), Schneider has bounced around with stops in Kansas City (1997-’99) and Washington (2001). He returned to the Packers in 2002, serving as a high-ranking executive in the front office until 2009.
Schneider took over as Seattle’s general manager in 2010. He was a candidate to replace Ted Thompson in Green Bay, following his retirement in 2018, but the Seahawks denied permission to interview him. Detroit could find itself in a similar situation, but the organization could argue that it would be offering Schneider a promotion.
NFL rumors: Detroit Lions preparing to move off Matthew Stafford
Once the Lions hire a general manager, the focus will immediately shift towards the team’s future. Matthew Stafford is playing at a high level, but this team is likely looking at a multi-year rebuild before it can contend. As a result, Stafford could be one of the hottest names on the trade market this offseason.