Seahawks GM John Schneider responds to receiving 'Hard Knocks' assignment

Recently, the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks confirmed that they will be the featured team for this year's edition of the "Hard Knocks: Training Camp" program. 

During a Thursday appearance on Seattle Sports 710, Seahawks general manager John Schneider offered his first public reaction to receiving the "Hard Knocks" assignment.

Seahawks will be "protective" regarding "Hard Knocks"

"We’re just very protective of like how we do things and what our culture looks like," Schneider acknowledged, per Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. "...We’re going to make it as positive as we possibly can without sharing as much information as we possibly can."

It's hardly a secret that executives and coaches from around the league would prefer if "Hard Knocks" didn't exist. Back in 2023, then-New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh unsuccessfully campaigned for his club to avoid being showcased on the program. To this day, New York Giants co-owner John Mara is the subject of jokes related to his admitting in front of "Hard Knocks" cameras that he'd have "a tough time sleeping" if star running back Saquon Barkley signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent. Last year, the Buffalo Bills were reportedly "not proud to be chosen for" the show. 

Can Seahawks avoid making "Hard Knocks" a distraction? 

"We’re going to work with the National Football League and the teams that have been through it before to help us (and) just make it a positive for the organization and have it not be as much of a distraction," Schneider explained during the segment. "…We’ll have plenty of advice by the time we get there."

Such comments suggest the Seahawks hope to be responsible for what viewers may feel is a boring edition of the show. Schneider seems to understand why there is an added interest in his team coming off its Super Bowl victory. 

"When the commissioner called me about it, it made sense," Schneider added about "Hard Knocks." 

That said, Schneider also seemed pleased by the fact that the Seahawks had "avoided ['Hard Knocks'] for 17 years" before the club's latest championship triumph.