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Tod Leiweke, a former Seahawks executive who was most recently the CEO of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, is returning to football to take a job as Chief Operating Officer of the National Football League.

The Lightning announced today that Leiweke is leaving after five years with the franchise.

During his time with the Seahawks, Leiweke was instrumental in the decision to fire head coach Jim Mora and to convince Pete Carroll to leave USC and coach the Seahawks, a decision that was questioned by some at the time but looks brilliant in hindsight.

Leiweke is a longtime ally of Seahawks owner Paul Allen and has worked for all of Allen’s sports franchises.