Seahawks Lose Nolan Teasley to Vikings, Creating Major Front Office Void
During the franchise’s re-ascent to Super Bowl champion over the past two-plus years, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider has been able to enjoy great continuity in the front office, maintaining all of his key confidants to oversee a tremendously successful roster reload.
But with a new season less than two months away, Schneider won’t have that same luxury coming out of the 2026 NFL Draft, as one of his longest-tenured staffers will be taking his talents to Minnesota.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, former Seahawks assistant general manager Nolan Teasley has accept the Vikings vacant general manager position following a second interview with the franchise. His departure will bring a 13-year tenure in the Pacific Northwest to an end as he now inherits the task of getting Minnesota back into contention in the rugged NFC North.
As a result of the NFL’s minority incentive program, Seattle will receive a compensatory third round pick in 2027 and 2028 with Teasley accepting the offer from Minnesota.
Graduating from Central Washington, Teasley began his rapid rise in Seattle’s scouting department as an intern in 2013, turning that opportunity into three years as a pro personnel scout for Schneider. Impressing in every role the organization awarded him, he stepped up to assistant director of pro personnel in 2017 and then spent five seasons as the director of pro personnel, overseeing everything in free agency and scouting players on other teams throughout the preseason.
Once again promoted for outstanding work, Teasley became Schneider’s new assistant general manager in 2023, taking on increased job responsibilities in all aspects of player acquisition such as the draft, free agency, and trades. While Schneider garnered Executive of the Year honors last season as Seattle captured its second Lombardi Trophy, such individual and team success would not have been possible without Teasley’s efforts identifying talent to bolster the roster.
During Teasley’s three-plus seasons as assistant general manager, the Seahawks signed quarterback Sam Darnold, defensive end Demarcus Lawrence, and safety Julian Love among others in free agency, bringing three crucial difference makers onboard as key moves to get the franchise over the hump. As Schneider’s right hand man, he helped facilitate shrewd deadline trades for defensive tackle Leonard Williams, linebacker Ernest Jones IV, and receiver Rashid Shaheed in three consecutive seasons, acquiring three All-Pros for a second round pick, three fourth round picks, and a fifth round pick.
As for the draft, even with Teasley cutting his teeth in the pro personnel department, he made a significant impact landing top-tier talent during the four drafts he helped conduct as assistant general manager. During that time, the team hit home runs on first round picks in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Devon Witherspoon, Byron Murphy II, and Grey Zabel while also finding Day 2 stars in Nick Emmanwori and Derick Hall along with several late round gems, including fourth round pick AJ Barner and fifth round pick Tory Horton.
While it has been a while since Seattle suffered a major front office departure, this won’t be Schneider’s first rodeo replacing a talented member of his scouting team. Current Panthers general manager Dan Morgan left after the 2017 season following three years as director of pro personnel, paving the way for Teasley to step into his shoes. Former Seahawks vice president of football operations Scott Fitterer departed for Carolina in 2021, holding the general manager spot before Morgan replaced him in 2024.
In the past, while he will look into outside options to ensure no stone remains unturned seeking the best fit to succeed Teasley, Schneider has opted to promote from within to replace departed front office members, and he has plenty of viable options in house to step into the assistant general manager role in efforts to reshuffle the deck.
Among the most notable members of Seattle’s front office who could be primed for a promotion, vice president of player acquisition Matt Berry has been with the organization for 19 years, previously wearing the hats of senior director of player personnel and director of college scouting. His versatile background being involved in college and pro scouting would make him an ideal fit to step into Teasley’s role with the franchise not missing a beat.
Now in his 14th season in Seattle, Trent Kirchner has been vice president of player personnel for the past six seasons, having a key hand in many of the noteworthy free agent and trade acquisitions made by the franchise as well as the players drafted during that span. Like Berry, he offers a proven track record of scouting professional and college players that would serve him well as an assistant general manager and understands how Schneider operates from his nearly decade and a half of tenure with the organization.
Director of college scouting Aaron Highline and director pro personnel Willie Schneider could also be in consideration for Teasley’s former role, ready to take the leap forward from positions previously held by the likes of Teasley, Morgan, and Fitterer.
Given the unusually late timing of Teasley’s exit - most general manager hirings happen shortly after the following season concludes - the Seahawks may actually benefit in this instance, as they were able to get through free agency and the draft before losing their assistant general manager, ensuring he had a voice in every aspect of player acquisition in his final months with the franchise.
Not having to worry about preparing for an upcoming draft minus a key front office player, Schneider will now be able to take time over the next several weeks to examine possible replacements before making a hire. If Seattle decides to stick with an internal candidate, the transition should be a fairly seamless one, but that doesn’t mean that Teasley’s departure won’t be felt either, as his impact helping construct a Super Bowl champion cannot be understated.
Still, as long as Schneider continues to call the shots at the top, the Seahawks have proven on multiple occasions that they can overcome front office losses. When Morgan left, Teasley stepped in and filled the void. Fitterer helped offset Morgan’s departure before he followed the latter to Carolina and Seattle didn’t miss a beat. With a quality scouting department to pull from for promotions, the franchise should be well equipped to fill a major void now left atop the front office hierarchy.
