Jim Zorn

Biography

Jim Zorn transformed the expansion Seattle Seahawks from hopeful upstarts into legitimate contenders as the franchise's first starting quarterback, establishing himself as one of the most electrifying scramblers of his era. Born on May 10, 1953, in Whittier, California, Zorn attended Gahr High School in Cerritos before playing at Cerritos College (1971-1972) and Cal Poly Pomona (1973-1974), where he also threw the javelin for the track team. Despite his productive college seasons, Zorn went undrafted in 1975, briefly signed with the Dallas Cowboys only to be cut before the regular season, then spent a year out of football before the expansion Seahawks gave him a chance in 1976. Zorn started 100 games for Seattle from 1976 to 1984, accumulating 20,122 passing yards, 107 touchdown passes, and 1,491 rushing yards with 17 rushing touchdowns across his nine-year tenure. Named the AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1976, he earned second-team All-Pro honors in 1978 and led the Seahawks to their first consecutive winning seasons (9-7 in both 1978 and 1979). He became only the third player in NFL history to throw for 10,000 yards in his first four seasons. Coach Chuck Knox benched Zorn midway through the 1983 season in favor of Dave Krieg, relegating him to backup duties through 1984 before stints with Green Bay (1985), the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1986), and Tampa Bay (1987) ended his playing career. His greatest moments showcased pioneering expansion-era brilliance: the 1976 inaugural season when he led the NFL with 439 pass attempts and set an expansion team record with 2,571 passing yards, earning the AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors; his October 30, 1977, return from a knee injury to throw four touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills, delivering Seattle's second victory of the season; his breakout 1978 campaign, posting 3,283 passing yards, 290 rushing yards, and six rushing touchdowns while finishing third in the voting for both Offensive Player of the Year and MVP, leading the Seahawks to their first winning season. Following his retirement, Zorn spent nine years coaching at three colleges—Boise State (1988-1991), Utah State (1992-1994), and Minnesota (1995-1996)—before returning to the NFL with Seattle as an offensive assistant in 1997. He served as the Detroit Lions quarterbacks coach (1998-2000), then returned to Seattle as the quarterbacks coach (2001-2007), tutoring Matt Hasselbeck to three Pro Bowl selections and franchise records, including 3,966 passing yards in 2007. Named Washington Redskins head coach in 2008, he posted a 12-20 record over two seasons before returning to quarterbacks coaching with Baltimore (2010) and Kansas City (2011-2012). In 2020, he served as head coach and general manager of the XFL's Seattle Dragons. Inducted into the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor in 1991 and the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame in 2008, Zorn remains fourth in franchise history in both passing yards and touchdown passes.