Schneider grew up in Wisconsin and attended high school in West De Pere at Abbot Pennings High School, where he played football, and graduated in 1989. He studied history and secondary education at University of St. Thomas and was on the football team his Freshman year until injuries caused him to retire. During his Junior year he wrote a letter to Ron Wolf asking if he could work as a scout. His internship that summer was the beginning of his relationship with the Green Bay Packers.
Professional executive career
Green Bay Packers
He started working in the Scouting Department for the Green Bay Packers in 1993.
He was the Director of Pro Personnel for the Chiefs from 1997 to 2000.
Seattle Seahawks
He worked for the Seahawks in 2000 under Ted Thompson.
Washington Redskins
In 2001, Schneider became the Vice President of Player Personnel.
Green Bay Packers
Schneider went back to the Green Bay Packers as the top personnel aide to the Packers' GM. He then elevated to Director of Football Operations.
Seattle Seahawks
In January 2010, the Seahawks announced the hiring of Pete Carroll as head coach, and the Seahawks then hired Schneider one week later. Schneider works in collaboration with Pete Carroll overseeing all of football operations. Since arriving, Schneider and Carroll have orchestrated a complete overhaul of Seattle's roster. In 2010, Schneider completed 284 roster transactions, including trading for Marshawn Lynch. On February 2, 2014, the Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII, their first championship in their existence. Of those on the championship roster, only Max Unger, Red Bryant, Jon Ryan and Brandon Mebane were Seahawks prior to Schneider's arrival in Seattle. Schneider and Seattle followed their Super Bowl win with another NFC Championship, but lost to New England in Super Bowl XLIX. In 2015, the Seahawks clinched a wild card berth, but fell in the NFC Divisional Round to the Panthers. Schneider signed a 5-year contract extension with the Seahawks in July 2016 that keeps him in Seattle through the 2021 season. The Seahawks won their fourth NFC West title under Schneider in 2016, but were eliminated in the divisional round of the playoffs for the second straight year. Schneider has been praised for his late-round draft picks and undrafted free agent signings. With Seattle, he drafted Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Tyler Lockett, and KJ Wright in the third round or later, and signed Doug Baldwin, Thomas Rawls, and Jermaine Kearse after they went undrafted. The Seahawks have been active in free agency and the trade market under Schneider as well, signing key free agentsMichael Bennett and Cliff Avril, and trading for Jimmy Graham. In August 2019, traded with the Texans giving Barkevious Mingo, Jacob Martin and a third round pick for pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, getting a compensatory third round pick back if he signs with other team on the 2020 free agency.
Awards and honors
Champion
Personal life
John Schneider has a wife, Traci, and two sons, Ben and Jack. Ben was diagnosed with autism, and the Schneider family has created the Ben's Fund foundation to help families suffering from the disorder.
