Jim Zorn

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 inaug…