2017 football: Five best Seahawks QBs of all-time

Thu., Aug. 31, 2017

By John Blanchette blanchettejp@gmail.com (509) 844-5558

Debate on The S-R’s five best QBs series

The Spokesman-Review

High schools proved the most challenging. We enlisted former Spokesman-Review high school writers Dave Trimmer and Mike Vlahovich as well as current staffers Greg Lee and Chris Derrick. In addition, prep historians Mike Schock and Bill Pierce also weighed in. (Note: We limited our selection area to include only Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.)

In the end, our picks combined a number of factors: Statistics, team success and nostalgia – and obviously, the final choices are quite subjective (and for entertainment purposes only). We hope you’ll enjoy.

– Ralph Walter, Sports editor

1) Russell Wilson

2012-17

1,476-2,281 (64.7 pct.), 18,193 yds, 127 TD, 45 INT: As triggerman for the franchise’s lone Super Bowl victory and playoff appearances from his rookie season on, Wilson’s place atop this list is secure. His 56 wins are the most among quarterbacks in their first five seasons and his 99.6 career passer rating is second only to Aaron Rodgers. And don’t forget his 2,689 career rushing yards.

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2) Matt Hasselbeck

2001-10

2,559-4,250 (60.2 pct.), 29,434 yds, 174 TD, 128 INT: Seahawks fans named him quarterback of the club’s 35th anniversary team in 2010, just five years after steering the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl appearance. Still the franchise’s leader in passing yards, Hasselbeck was 69-62 as a starter and was at the controls for six playoff appearances, along with playing in three Pro Bowls.

3) Dave Krieg

1980-91

2,096-3,576 (58.6 pct.), 26,132 yds, 195 TD, 148 INT: Undrafted and from a defunct college, he took over as starter nine games into the 1983 season and led the Seahawks to their first playoffs – and the AFC title game. Krieg was 70-49 as a starter with four playoff berths and three Pro Bowl appearances during Seattle’s breakthrough phase. Member of the team’s Ring of Honor.

4) Jim Zorn

1976-83

1,593-2,990 (53.3 pct.), 20,122 yds, 107 TD, 133 INT: The Butch to Steve Largent’s Sundance for the early Seahawks, when the expansion franchise managed to poke its nose over the .500 mark in just its third season. The AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1976, his scrambling ability (1,491 rushing yards) was well suited to those early teams. Second inductee into the team’s Ring of Honor.

5) Jon Kitna

1997-2000

658-1,130 (58.2 pct.), 7,552 yds, 49 TD, 45 INT: Home grown in Tacoma and another small-college success (from Central Washington), he was Dennis Erickson’s find and took over from Warren Moon in mid-1998. The next year, he led the Seahawks to their first playoff berth in 11 years, but Hasselbeck’s arrival nudged him into moving on as a free agent in 2001.

Honorable mention

Warren Moon (1997-98), Rick Mirer (1993-96), Trent Dilfer (2001-04), Tavaris Jackson (2011-15), John Friesz (1995-98)