Seahawks make moves in front office and staff
The Seattle Seahawks fired offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer on Tuesday following a season in which the team set several offensive records but coach Pete Carroll had clear issues with how the offense operated.
Seattle announced the move, citing “philosophical differences.” The Seahawks had the highest-scoring team in franchise history, Russell Wilson threw a career-high 40 touchdowns in the regular season, and wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett both set club records for receiving.
Still, the Seahawks regressed offensively in the second half of the season, and Wilson and Carroll both made comments following Seattle’s 30-20 playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams that indicated concerns with the lack of adjustments by the offense late in the season.
Carroll brushed aside questions about any changes to his coaching staff during his end-of-season news conference on Monday.
In other team news, the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to a contract extension with general manager John Schneider that will keep him tied to the franchise through the 2027 draft.
Schneider arrived as general manager in 2010 after Carroll had been lured from college football to take over the Seahawks. The duo has worked lockstep for the past decade in making Seattle one of the top franchises in the NFL.
Awards: San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, New England Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona, and Atlanta Falcons executive Steve Cannon are finalists for the NFL Salute to Service Award.
The award recognizes exceptional efforts to honor and support members of the military community. It will be presented Feb. 6, the night before the Super Bowl, at NFL Honors, when The Associated Press announces its individual NFL awards.
■ Bears: Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano, 60, is retiring, NFL Network reported.
■ Bengals: Quarterback Joe Burrow expects to start running on his surgically repaired left knee next month and is confident he’ll be ready to start the 2021 season. The timetable is based on zero setbacks in the rigorous rehab of his knee.
■ Bills: Buffalo signed running back Devonta Freeman to their practice squad Tuesday to add veteran depth after placing rookie Zack Moss on injured reserve.
■ Browns: Cleveland placed guard Michael Dunn (calf ) and cornerback Robert Jackson (hamstring) on injured reserve.
■ Colts: Anthony Castonzo, Indianapolis longtime left tackle, announced his retirement Tuesday.
■ Lions: Detroit acquired linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton off waivers from Washington.
Packers: Green Bay signed offensive tackle Jared Veldheer.
The 33-year-old was Indianapolis’ starting left tackle for their final two games, including a 27-24 AFC first-round playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills last weekend.
Since the Colts merely elevated him from the practice squad for game day and didn’t officially sign him to their 53-man roster, Green Bay was able to sign him this week
Steelers: Running back Trey Edmunds was waived.
Texans: Houston requested to interview Kansas City’s offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Houston will have to wait until Kansas City either loses or until after the Super Bowl to interview Bieniemy, per the league’s anti-tampering policy.