When head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider took control of the Seahawks’ front office in 2010, the focus wasn’t necessarily on winning football games. Rather, it was competing day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, to be in the position they find themselves now: a chance to win their second consecutive Super Bowl.

In his 2010 introductory press conference, Schneider said, “We’re all about competition at every position. We want personnel guys who want to be general managers, we want assistant coaches who want to be head coaches, we want receivers who want to be Pro Bowl receivers. We’re going to be bringing players in and creating a ton of competition.”

The Seahawks were preparing for the success that the 2013 and 2014 seasons have brought since 2010, when they made an astounding 284 roster moves in their first season at the helm. Such moves included drafting left tackle Russell Okung, free safety Earl Thomas III and strong safety Kam Chancellor — three players who have played a prominent role since joining the Seahawks.

The front office wasn’t done in 2010 though, as the Seahawks traded for running back Marshawn Lynch, arguably the Seahawks’ most valuable player the past three seasons.

“Marshawn Lynch is our engine. Everything runs through him,” said teammate Doug Baldwin, after a game this season against the New York Giants on Nov. 9.

The Seahawks finished the 2010 season 7-9 in the new front office’s first season, which included an improbable playoff win starring Lynch’s “Beast Quake,” a 67-yard touchdown run over the New Orleans Saints.

The next season saw Seattle finish 7-9 again and missing the playoffs. The front office was busy again though, drafting five players prior to the season that would start or play a major role in 2013 and 2014, including cornerback Richard Sherman in the fifth round.

Prior to the beginning of the 2012 NFL season, Seattle again struck gold in the draft. The Seahawks’ first three picks were used on linebacker’s Bruce Irvin, Bobby Wagner and quarterback Russell Wilson.

The Seahawks have also made splashes when signing undrafted free agents. In 2011, they signed wide receivers Doug Baldwin and Ricardo Lockette, who have made immense contributions as receivers and special teamers. Seattle also signed University of Washington standout Jermaine Kearse as an undrafted free agent in 2012, who has caught the game-winning touchdown in the past two NFC Championship games.

With the team that Carroll and Schneider envisioned two years ago starting to come into fruition, the Seahawks improved drastically in the 2012 season, finishing 11-5 and advancing to the NFC Divisional round.

After building up a roster full of young players for three years, Carroll and Schneider now had the team they wanted in place and the team soared like a hawk, going 11-1 through their first 12 games, finishing the regular season 13-3 and riding their defense all the way to the Super Bowl, demolishing the Peyton Manning-led Denver Broncos, 43-8.

How the Seahawks’ front office built their current roster is a work of art, something the late Leonardo Da Vinci himself could appreciate.

The Seahawks’ reign in the NFL isn’t ending anytime soon. It has just begun.