Shrewd moves in free agency and NFL draft helped GM John Schneider build Seahawks' Super Bowl roster

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — John Schneider was hired a little over 16 years ago as general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, a job he has held since.

Schneider added the title of president of football operations in 2024. But when asked Thursday if he could have imagined being in charge of the Seahawks' personnel for that long, the 54-year-old had a simple answer: “No.”

“It’s a total blessing,” Schneider said Thursday. “I read this really cool article the other day about culture as an artifact of relationships. Is it that hard to just treat people the right way, work your (butt) off and do it the way you want to do it?”

With the Seahawks preparing to face the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, it's clear that Schneider's approach was successful this season. His shrewd moves in free agency and the NFL draft helped the Seahawks build a deep, talented roster that won 14 games in the regular season and two home playoff games as the NFC's top seed.

Schneider brought in quarterback Sam Darnold on a three-year, $100.5 million contract while also signing veteran defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and wide receiver Cooper Kupp, among others.

Darnold made his second straight Pro Bowl and stabilized the most important position on the field. Lawrence, in his 12th season, had 11 tackles for loss, six sacks and returned two fumbles for touchdowns.

“When you’re bringing people into your building, especially in free agency, you want to make sure that the quality of the person, do we know exactly what we’re getting?” Schneider said. “So we had a great background with those guys, the character, the person, the work ethic, love of the game, the grit, all the things you’ve heard for years and years.”

The Seahawks have also benefited from a bold move Schneider made four years ago.

In March of 2022, Schneider traded quarterback Russell Wilson to Denver for a package of draft picks and players. Schneider used those picks to select All-Pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon, left tackle Charles Cross and a pair of edge rushers, Boye Mafe and Derick Hall.

If that wasn't enough, Schneider has a strong record with first-round draft picks in recent years.

This year's first-round pick, left guard Grey Zabel, upgraded the offensive line. Defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, taken in the first round in 2024, had seven sacks.

In 2023, when he also took Witherspoon, Schneider drafted Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who blossomed into the NFL's leader in yards receiving this season.

“Man, Spoon is a heartbeat guy, the whole building feels him,” Schneider said. “They’re just these completely different personalities, but in their own right. Everybody just totally respects Jax, the way he handles himself. It was amazing to have two guys that we thought were top five to seven players in that draft.”

Seattle has one of the youngest rosters in the NFL, but at the moment, Schneider isn't focused on the future beyond Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California, when his team will meet the Patriots with the Lombardi Trophy on the line.

It's a rematch of the Super Bowl 11 years ago, when Schneider's Seahawks fell agonizingly short of repeating as champions — by losing to New England.

“Tried not to think about that too much,” Schneider said. “That was an amazing game, though. But no, it really doesn’t (matter). It’s, OK, what’s the next team we’re playing?”

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Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider speaks during a news conference at the NFL football team's facilities ahead of Super Bowl 60, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider speaks during a news conference at the NFL football team's facilities ahead of Super Bowl 60, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider, center, speaks during a news conference at the NFL football team's facilities ahead of Super Bowl 60, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks president of football operations/general manager John Schneider speaks during a news conference at the NFL football team's facilities ahead of Super Bowl 60, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Melania Trump is capping her first year back as first lady with the global release of a documentary she produced about the 20 days leading up to husband Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

“Melania” will premiere Thursday at the Kennedy Center, where the Trumps are expected to walk the red carpet before the film opens in theaters worldwide Friday. They hosted a similar viewing at the White House last Saturday.

The first lady has said that she got the idea for the documentary after her husband won the 2024 election and that it will give viewers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at her life.

“My new film, ‘Melania,’ provides a window into an important period for America, the 47th presidential inauguration," she said Wednesday before ringing the bell to open the New York Stock Exchange. "For the first time in history, people will witness the 20 days leading up to the inauguration, through the eyes of an incoming first lady.”

A private person, Melania Trump still remains a bit of a mystery to the public in her husband's second term.

She said the film will show what it takes to step into the high-profile role as she juggles being a businessperson, a wife and a mother, as well as the coordinator of her family's move back to the Executive Mansion.

“Everyone wants to know. So here it is,” she says in the trailer for the nearly two-hour film.

In another scene from the trailer, it is Inauguration Day and Melania Trump is inside the Capitol, waiting to be escorted into the Rotunda for the ceremony. She turns her head, looks directly into the camera that had been documenting her every move and says, “Here we go again.”

She wrote in her self-titled memoir published in 2024 about how much she values her privacy. She is not as frequently seen or heard from as often as some of her recent predecessors, which may be influencing the public's perceptions of her. But she also likes to do things her way.

The U.S. public is divided on their views of the first lady, but a significant number — about 4 in 10 adults — had no opinion or had not heard of her, according to a CNN poll from January 2025. About 3 in 10 adults saw her favorably while roughly the same share had an unfavorable opinion.

Her standing among Republicans was higher, with about 7 in 10 saying in the poll that they viewed her favorably, but around one-quarter did not have an opinion.

Experts said the film could help improve perceptions of her.

“I think it’s an attempt, in a way, to really augment or tailor or really refine her image for the American public,” said Katherine Sibley, who teaches history at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. “She’s a mystery to the American people.”

Melania Trump, 55, said she's honored to execute the traditional duties of first lady, such as holding state dinners, hosting the annual Easter Egg Roll and decorating for Christmas. But she also has suggested she wants to leave her mark in other ways, too.

“I want to impact Americans' lives,” she said this week during an interview on Fox News Channel's “Fox & Friends.”

She spent chunks of time away from Washington last year working on the documentary and was deeply involved in every aspect of its development, according to Marc Beckman, her longtime senior adviser.

The well-being and safety of children remains one of her top priorities, and she has used her influence to lobby Congress to pass the “Take It Down Act,” making it a federal crime to publish intimate images online without consent. The president signed the bill into law and had her sign it, too.

Her advocacy for foster children was enshrined in an executive order creating a “Fostering the Future” program. It's part of the “Be Best” child-focused initiative she launched in the first term.

She also wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin last year for help reuniting children who had been separated from their families because of his war against Ukraine. She had her husband hand-deliver the letter when the leaders met in Alaska, and she later announced that eight children had been reunited with their families.

The first lady accompanied the president on visits to disaster zones, where she helped console victims. She has taken a prominent role in the administration's efforts on artificial intelligence and education and launched a global version of the foster child program.

She told guests at a White House Christmas reception that she is working on a new legislative effort for 2026, but has not yet shared details.

It was unclear how much money Melania Trump stands to earn or what her plans are for any film proceeds. Experts said it was unusual for a first lady to pursue a project of this kind from the White House — but not unusual for the Trumps.

“As far as I know, she’s the first first lady to be paid a lot of money to have a documentary made about her and it is unprecedented in terms of the Trumps because they are always breaking precedent,” said Katherine Jellison, professor emerita of history at Ohio University.

Presidents and first ladies generally refrain from pursuing outside business ventures while in office to avoid potential conflicts of interest or raising ethical concerns.

Both Trumps participate in numerous business ventures, selling everything from watches, fragrances and Bibles for him to jewelry, Christmas ornaments and digital collectibles for her.

The movie also marks another link between the Trumps and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who has worked to improve a once-tense relationship with the president. The documentary, which was produced by AmazonMGM Studios and is said to have cost $40 million, will stream exclusively on the Amazon Prime Video streaming service after its theatrical run.

Amazon has declined to comment on the financial arrangements.

The film was set for release in approximately 1,600 screens worldwide on Friday, including about 1,500 in the United States. The premiere is to be simulcast in 21 theaters nationwide for invited guests on Thursday to help build excitement for the launch.

The movie is the first project by director Brett Ratner since he was accused of sexual misconduct in the early days of the #MeToo reckoning. Ratner's lawyer has denied the allegations.

He shares producer credits with the first lady, Beckman and Fernando Sulichin of New Element Media. Filming began in December 2024.

Associated Press writer Linley Sanders contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for the premiere of her movie "Melania" at The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for the premiere of her movie "Melania" at The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for the premiere of her movie "Melania" at The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrives for the premiere of first lady Melania Trump's movie "Melania" at The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., and his wife Kelly arrive for the premiere of first lady Melania Trump's movie "Melania" at The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his wife Jennifer arrive for the premiere of first lady Melania Trump's movie "Melania" at The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and his wife Kathryn arrive for the premiere of first lady Melania Trump's movie "Melania" at The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

A worker removes plastic from the carpet before the premiere of first lady Melania Trump's movie "Melania" at The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

First lady Melania Trump delivers her remarks in the New York Stock Exchange board room before ringing the opening bell, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

First lady Melania Trump signs the book on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange before ringing the opening bell, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

First lady Melania Trump poses for photos on the podium after ringing the New York Stock Exchange opening bell, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)