Since the Seattle Seahawks' inception in 1976, almost 40 years ago, 21 men have started a game as the starting quarterback for the team. Beginning with Jim Zorn as the inaugural starter, all the way to Geno Smith, the current starter, the Seahawks have seen the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and everything in between. Only five out of Seattle's 21 starters have ever started a playoff game.
For this list, only quarterbacks with three or more starts will be considered for the rankings. That excludes these former starting quarterbacks:
Gale Gilbert (two starts), Bruce Mathison (two), Jeff Kemp (two), Glenn Foley (one), Charlie Frye (one), and Drew Lock (two). In ranking the eligible quarterbacks, I will be taking into consideration their longevity, production, and winning percentage.
Ranking every Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback
16. Stan Gelbaugh
Stan Gelbaugh started eight games for the Seahawks in 1992 after being signed from the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football. Yeah, I didn't know that was a thing either. Gelbaugh played college ball at Maryland before going to Europe to play professional football overseas. When Gelbaugh was signed to the Seahawks' roster in 1992, he was supposed to be the third-string quarterback.
However, after Dan McGwire went down with an injury, it was Gelbaugh who took the starting job. That season, Gelbaugh completed 121 of his 255 attempts (47.5 percent) for 1,307 yards with six touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Gelbaugh did not start again following the 1992 season until late the next season after Rick Mirer went down with an injury. He played in one game in 1994, then played two series before getting injured in 1996.
Gelbaugh finished his Seattle career 1-8 in 9 career starts with a 7:12 touchdown to interception ratio.
15. Steve Myer
A fourth-round pick in the 1976 NFL Draft, Steve Myer was a standout quarterback out of New Mexico. Myer didn't play a single snap in his rookie season as Jim Zorn was the starter. However, in 1977, Myer got his opportunity.
In four games, Steve Myer completed 70 of his 130 passes for 729 yards with six touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In those four games, Myer went 1-3. He was also sacked nine times.
14. Charlie Whitehurst
Nicknamed "Clipboard Jesus", Charlie Whitehurst was traded to Seattle in 2010 by way of the San Diego Chargers. Seattle gave up a third-round pick, as well as a second-round pick swap with the Chargers to acquire Whitehurst. Seattle had high hopes for the former third-round pick, who had yet to find his footing in the league.
In late 2010, Whitehurst made his Seahawks debut when Matt Hasselbeck injured his wrist. His first start underwhelmed, throwing for 113 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions in a loss to the New York Giants. Whitehurst actually started the week 17 game against the Rams, as both teams sat at 6-9. The winner would win the NFC West at 7-9 and host a playoff game. Whitehurst impressed, as he went 22-of-36 for 192 yards and a touchdown, earning the Seahawks the NFC West title and a home playoff game.
However, that's where the highlights end for Whitehurst. He got a few more opportunities in 2011 when Tarvaris Jackson was injured, but never lived up to the decent price Seattle paid to acquire him. In his two years as a Seahawk, Whitehurst finished 1-3 in games he started, with a 3-4 touchdown to interception ratio. Whitehurst returned to San Diego only two years after the team traded him.
13. Kelly Stouffer
With the sixth overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft, the Cardinals selected Kelly Stouffer, quarterback from Colorado State. His career got off to an inauspicious start after he sat out his entire rookie season due to contract disputes. The Cardinals then traded Stouffer to the Seahawks in 1988. Stouffer was buried in the depth chart behind Dave Krieg and Jeff Kemp, but when Krieg got injured and Kemp was proven to be terrible, Stouffer got his opportunity.
Stouffer was mediocre in his starts in 1988 before Krieg returned from injury. Krieg took his job back and Stouffer sat on the bench for three seasons before he was given another opportunity to start in 1992. In the first five games of the season, Stouffer went 1-4 and was largely ineffective before getting injured himself. Stouffer never got another chance to start and was released in 1993.
Stouffer's official record as a starter for the Seahawks was 5-11. Stouffer never threw for over 1,000 yards in a season after his first year in 1988. He finished his Seahawks career with a 7-19 touchdown to interception ratio.
12. John Friesz
John "Deep" Friesz (pronounced Freeze, get it?) started 11 games for the Seahawks between 1995 and 1998. Friesz, a sixth-round pick by the Chargers in 1990, played in San Diego for three years before a knee injury derailed his career and he was dealt to Washington. After a year in Washington, Seattle acquired him to back up Rick Mirer, who had been struggling.
Friesz got three starting opportunities in 1995 and went 1-2. Although Mirer had a better record at 7-6, Friesz was much more efficient in his limited starts, tossing six touchdowns and three interceptions. For comparison, Mirer threw 13 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Nonetheless, the Seahawks stood by Mirer for most of 1996. Friesz still did get six starts in 1996, going 4-2 and throwing eight touchdowns to four interceptions.
By 1997, Seattle had acquired 41-year-old Warren Moon, who started most of the games that season. Friesz did get one start but lost the game after throwing for no touchdowns and three interceptions. In 1998, Friesz got one more start, winning the game. However, that was it for Friesz's Seattle career as he made his way to New England in 1999. He ended his Seattle career with a 6-5 starting record.
11. Seneca Wallace
Coming into the 2003 NFL Draft, Seneca Wallace, out of Iowa State University, was an incredible athlete. There was one slight problem. Teams wanted Wallace to convert to wide receiver, but Wallace was insistent on remaining a quarterback. The Seahawks took a chance on Wallace in the 4th round.
After being mostly inactive for the first two years of his career, Wallace made an appearance in the 2005 NFC Championship game. He made an incredible 28-yard catch from Matt Hasselbeck on the sidelines. But it wasn't until 2006 that Wallace would make his first start at quarterback for Seattle. Hasselbeck went down with a knee injury and Wallace made four starts that year.
Wallace went 2-2 in his four starts, throwing for just shy of 1,000 yards. He threw eight touchdowns and seven interceptions before Hasselbeck returned to the starting lineup. In 2007, Wallace remained a reserve quarterback but got some limited opportunities as a gadget player.
By 2008, Wallace was still a reserve, but another Hasselbeck injury gave him the chance to start once again. In 8 games started in 2008, including the final two games of the season in which he started over Hasselbeck, who was healthy, Wallace threw for over 1,500 yards. His 11 touchdowns to three interceptions ratio was the best in the NFL. Wallace was traded to Cleveland the following year after he ended his Seattle tenure with a 5-9 starting record.
10. Rick Mirer
A highly-touted prospect out of Notre Dame, Rick Mirer was the second overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft by the Seahawks. Seattle, coming off a bad 1992 campaign, with a brand new head coach in Tom Flores, wanted their franchise quarterback. And Mirer looked the part.
In his rookie season, Mirer started for Seattle and immediately set multiple records. Mirer broke the rookie records for passing yards and completions, throwing for 2,833 and 12 touchdowns, as he led the Seahawks to six wins - four more than the last season. Hopes were high for the young quarterback and he looked poised to become the long-term answer at quarterback for a team who desperately needed one.
However, his rookie season was his best in Seattle. Over the next three seasons, Mirer's production would quickly decline, while the turnovers and mental mistakes started to become more prevalent. One glaring issue every fan could identify was Mirer's inability to throw to his left side, which is a serious, serious issue.
Seattle had actually put together a nice supporting cast to supplement Mirer, including running back Curt Warner and receivers Brian Blades and Joey Galloway. Unfortunately, Mirer continued to get in his own way and he could never take advantage of his young weapons.
In four seasons in Seattle, Mirer went 20-31. In 1997, the Seahawks cut their losses and traded Mirer to the Chicago Bears in exchange for draft capital. Rick Mirer did give Seattle one parting gift, however, as one of the draft picks Chicago gave up for him ultimately turned into Seahawks great Shawn Springs.
9. Tarvaris Jackson
Tarvaris Jackson was a standout quarterback at Alabama State and declared for the 2006 NFL Draft. The Minnesota Vikings selected Jackson with the final pick of the second round after trading up to get him. Jackson's NFL career got off to a slow start and when the Vikings signed Brett Favre in 2009, his tenure in Minnesota was coming to an abrupt end.
The Seahawks signed Jackson to a 2-year deal in 2011, the year Matt Hasselbeck left Seattle. Jackson was named the starter and offensive team captain. Jackson was familiar with the offense, as his former offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell was calling the plays in Seattle. Further, his favorite target from Minnesota, Sidney Rice, was reunited with him. In 2011, Jackson passed for over 3,000 yards, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
However, Jackson's value truly showed when Seattle signed Matt Flynn and drafted Russell Wilson in the 2012 offseason. Jackson did not complain but competed for the starting spot, which was eventually won by Wilson. Instead of forcing his way out, he took Wilson under his wing and helped develop the rookie into one of the best quarterbacks in the league. In 2013, Jackson was able to get some playing time in Super Bowl XLVIII, as Seattle was firmly in control late in the game.
As a starter in Seattle, Jackson went 7-7 with a 60 percent completion percentage to go along with 3,242 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He was a good bridge quarterback and an even better leader and mentor to the incumbent starter, Russell Wilson.
8. Trent Dilfer
Fresh off a Super Bowl win in 2000 with the Baltimore Ravens, the Seahawks signed quarterback Trent Dilfer to a one-year deal to back up Matt Hasselbeck. Considered a lower-end starter, Dilfer's deal was worth only $1 million. However, when Hasselbeck suffered a groin injury in week three of the 2001 season, Dilfer proved his worth as a backup.
Over weeks four and five, Dilfer started and won both games. Hasselbeck returned after a two-game absence, but after struggling only a month after he returned, he was benched in the second half against Washington. Dilfer played well in relief of Hasselbeck, and when Hasselbeck suffered a shoulder injury late in the season, Dilfer started the last two games of the season. Seattle won both games, and as a starter, Dilfer was 4-0 in 2001. After the season, Seattle extended Dilfer to a four-year deal.
In 2002, Dilfer was hit with several injuries, starting with an MCL injury in the preseason after being named the starter. After returning from injury and reclaiming the starting position, Dilfer once again got injured, this time tearing his Achilles, ending his 2002 campaign. In 2003, Dilfer was relegated to the backup role behind Hasselbeck and only played in limited snaps.
By 2004, Dilfer was still the backup, but started two games, winning both. At this point in his career, he was a veteran mentor for Hasselbeck who could come in and play if needed. As a starter, Dilfer was 8-4 in his career in Seattle, but his most valuable trait was his leadership and mentorship to a young Matt Hasselbeck.
7. Warren Moon
In the late 1970s, Warren Moon was the star quarterback at the University of Washington. However, Moon elected to sign with the CFL prior to the NFL Draft. Moon tore it up for six years in the CFL, earning himself a contract with the Houston Oilers in 1984, where he spent ten years building a Hall of Fame career. He spent an additional three years in Minnesota before the 1997 season when Seattle signed the 41-year-old.
Seattle took a chance on the aging quarterback amidst Rick Mirer's struggles and named Moon the starter in 1997. In his first season in Seattle, Moon was named to the Pro Bowl after he started 14 games and threw for 3,678 yards for 25 touchdowns. Seattle went 8-8 that year, and Moon went 7-7 in the 14 games he started.
In 1998, while Moon was 42, he started 10 more games for Seattle. His production dropped significantly, throwing for only 1,632 yards and 11 touchdowns. Moon went 4-6 in his starts. While Moon was a bonafide NFL legend, Seattle caught him at the very tail end of his career. Moon did provide some solid quarterback play in 1997, but it really did nothing to further the team. In total, Moon went 11-13 as a Seahawks starter.
6. Jon Kitna
The Seahawks discovered Jon Kitna by accident. After Kitna finished his career at Central Washington University, he did a favor for his receiver, Bryce Erickson, who was having a workout for his uncle and Seahawks head coach Dennis Erickson. During the workout, Erickson ended up being enamored with Kitna and signed him to a practice squad contract.
In 1996, Kitna remained on the practice squad and was never elevated. In 1997, Kitna was allocated to the World League of American Football, where he dominated the league. Seattle recalled Kitna to the roster, where he served as a backup for the remainder of the season. In 1998, Kitna got his first start as a Seahawk, passing for 298 yards and 2 touchdowns, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Kitna continued to impress in 1998, finishing the season with five starts. He led the Seahawks to a 3-2 record after throwing for 1,177 yards and 7 touchdowns. By 1999, Kitna was the starter for Seattle. In October, Ktna was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month after going 3-1, throwing for seven touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Kitna finished the season going 8-7 in games he started and led the Seahawks to an AFC West crown. Kitna threw for 3,346 yards and 23 touchdowns to finish the season.
In 2000, Kitna had a miserable start to the season and was eventually replaced by Brock Huard for a few games. He ended up starting 12 games in the season, going 6-6. Kitna's production fell down to 2,658 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions. The 2000 season spelled the end of Kitna's career in Seattle. Kitna was 18-16 as a starter.
5. Jim Zorn
Jim Zorn was the first Seahawks quarterback ever. Before Seattle's inaugural season, Zorn was signed to a contract following a short stint with the Dallas Cowboys in 1975. Zorn was entrusted to be the starting quarterback for the new expansion team.
In his rookie season, Zorn found an immediate connection with future Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent. Although Seattle went 2-12 in their first season and Zorn threw 27 interceptions, Zorn was named AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year. Seattle was cautiously optimistic despite the abysmal record and the interceptions due to Zorn's connection with Largent.
That optimism paid off as Zorn, from 1978-1980, threw for three straight 3,000-yard seasons. Zorn was third in MVP and Offensive Player of the Year voting in 1978, earning second-team All-Pro honors.
Zorn played a large part in ushering the Seahawks into the NFL. He served as the primary quarterback for Steve Largent's Hall of Fame career. Zorn was also a precursor to the modern mobile quarterback, as he was a proficient scrambler and frequently tucked the ball and ran. His three straight 3,000-yard seasons were a franchise record until Matt Hasselbeck broke it in 2005. As a starter, Zorn was only 40-60, but he was one of the most important and influential quarterbacks in team history.
4. Geno Smith
Geno Smith was famously written off after being a second-round pick by the New York Jets in 2013 and bouncing around the league until he was signed by the Seahawks in 2019 to serve as the backup to Russell Wilson. Smith was actually waived by the Seahawks in 2019 but made his way back to the roster in 2020. In 2021, Wilson injured his throwing hand in week five, and Smith replaced him for the next four games. He finished the season with 702 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception.
Seattle must've been fairly impressed with Smith's 2021 campaign because the following offseason, the team made a blockbuster trade, sending Russell Wilson to the Broncos for a plethora of players and draft picks, including quarterback Drew Lock. Smith and Lock competed for the starting job prior to the 2022 season, with Smith winning convincingly. Smith started all 17 games for the Seahawks in 2022.
After a shockingly good season, in which the Seahawks snuck into the playoffs at 9-8, Geno Smith was named AP Comeback Player of the Year. Smith led the entire league in completion percentage, 69.8 percent, and set a career-high in passing yards with 4,282.
His 30-11 touchdown to interception ratio was also a career-best. Smith thoroughly outplayed Russell Wilson, who struggled in Denver and made the trade one of the most lopsided in NFL history. Smith signed a three-year deal with Seattle following his successful 2022 campaign.
In 2023, Smith started the year on fire, but suffered a series of nagging injuries that sidelined him for a few games. In one of the games he was injured in, Smith returned to the field and orchestrated a drive to set up for the game-winning field goal against the Los Angeles Rams. Unfortunately, Myers missed the field goal.
Throughout the 2023 season, Smith set an NFL record for most go-ahead touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and overtime, with seven. In 15 games started, Smith went 8-7 with 3,624 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Smith figures to be the starter in 2024. In his Seattle career, Smith is 18-17 with an 0-1 playoff record. He holds a few Seattle records: highest completion percentage in a season, most passing yards in a season, most completions in a season, and most attempts in a season.
3. Dave Krieg
An undrafted free agent in 1980, Dave Krieg worked out for the Seahawks and was offered a contract to be a reserve quarterback. In 1981, Krieg had earned his way up to second-string, and when Jim Zorn went down with an injury, Krieg started the final three games of the season. Krieg went 2-1 and showed some serious talent and gave Seattle a decision to consider going into 1982.
Krieg won the starting job in 1982 and started for the majority of the season before suffering an injury to his throwing hand. Zorn took back over, but when he struggled and Krieg was cleared to return, Krieg took his starting spot back to finish the season.
In 1983, Krieg was once again relegated to the backup role until midseason when head coach Chuck Knox reinserted him into the starting lineup. Krieg led the Seahawks to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and went all the way to the AFC Championship game.
Krieg was named the official starter in 1984, even after the team desperately tried to lure Warren Moon to Seattle. In week one, running back Curt Warner injured his knee, forcing Krieg to pass the ball more than planned. This oddly worked out in Seattle's favor, as Krieg threw for 3,671 yards and 32 touchdowns. Seattle finished the year 12-4 and Krieg was named to the Pro Bowl. However, in 1985, Krieg's production fell off a cliff, and whispers about his future in Seattle were starting to get louder.
In 1986, Krieg had a much-needed hot start to the year. But by midseason, Krieg's struggles from 1985 reared their ugly heads and he was benched for four games. Krieg returned to the starting lineup after the team lost all four games he was benched. Krieg led Seattle to five straight wins and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for December.
In 1987, Krieg set a franchise record with his 108th touchdown pass, surpassing Jim Zorn's previous record, in the first game of the season. Krieg led Seattle to the playoffs once again, but Seattle was knocked out in the first round.
In 1988, a make-or-break year for Krieg, Seattle won the division for the first time in team history after defeating the Raiders in week 17 behind Krieg's 410 yards and 4 touchdowns. However, Seattle once again lost in the first round of the playoffs.
By 1989, Krieg began showing his decline as the Seahawks missed the playoffs at 7-9. And by 1990, Krieg was essentially unplayable. Seattle drafted his replacement in 1991, and Krieg signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Krieg was the starting quarterback for Seattle for eight straight seasons between 1984 and 1991. His 73 wins as a starter is third all-time in Seahawks history.
2. Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Hasselbeck, out of Boston College, was selected in the 6th round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers to serve as a backup to Brett Favre. Packers head coach Mike Holmgren saw Hasselbeck as fantastic value in the penultimate round of that year's draft and decided to select him to learn and grow behind Favre.
When Holmgren took the head coaching job in Seattle, a team with question marks at quarterback, he made sure to bring Hasselbeck with him. Seattle traded a first-round pick swap and a third-round pick to acquire Hasselbeck.
Hasselbeck didn't immediately get the starting job, as he would compete with veteran Trent Dilfer. However, after impressing coaches in his limited playing time in 2002, Hasselbeck would win the starting job in 2003. In his first season as the full-time starter, Hasselbeck led Seattle to a 10-win season amidst his first Pro Bowl selection, earning a spot in the playoffs.
He recorded over 3,800 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. The wildcard game against Green Bay was the infamous "we want the ball and we're gonna score" game in which Hasselbeck threw a pick-six to lose the game in overtime.
In 2004, Hasselbeck impressed once again, leading Seattle to an NFC West title, the Seahawks' first division championship since the 2002 realignment. However, in 2005, Hasselbeck took a massive leap forward. He threw for almost 3,500 yards and had a touchdown to interception ratio of 24:9, also setting a career-high in completion percentage.
Hasselbeck led the Seahawks to a 13-3 record and ultimately an NFC Championship and consequent Super Bowl appearance. Hasselbeck would make his second Pro Bowl that year.
By 2007, Seattle had won three straight NFC West titles under Hasselbeck. That season, Hasselbeck set career highs in both passing yards (3,966) and touchdowns (28). Seattle won their fourth consecutive division championship and handily defeated Washington in the wildcard round at home. Although Seattle fell to Green Bay in the divisional round, Hasselbeck was named to his third Pro Bowl.
Hasselbeck's 2008 campaign, marred by a back injury, was a drastic fall from grace. In seven starts, Hasselbeck only completed 52 percent of his passes and only tossed 5 touchdowns, compared to his 10 interceptions. The next season wasn't much better as in 2009, in 14 games, Hasselbeck barely eclipsed 3,000 yards and threw for 17 touchdowns, to go along with 17 interceptions. His fall-off continued into 2010, when he only threw for 12 touchdowns along with another 17 interceptions.
Following the 2010 season, Hasselbeck was sadly a shell of his former self and Seattle would let Hasselbeck walk in free agency in a move that disheartened both the team and Hasselbeck himself. Before the sad divorce, however, Hasselbeck was considered the best quarterback Seattle had ever had up to that point. He had a franchise record 74 wins and owned almost every statistical record a quarterback could have in Seattle.
1. Russell Wilson
After Seattle made a large splash by signing free agent quarterback Matt Flynn, Seattle selected overlooked prospect Russell Wilson out of Wisconsin in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Wilson, who most teams passed on due to his size. Teams were concerned with Wilson's ability to pass from the pocket at his stature.
Throughout the 2012 preseason, Flynn was the consensus starter. That was until Wilson made it impossible to ignore him. After a stellar preseason, Seattle named their third-round rookie the starter over the free agent quarterback they paid $26 million to. It was a classic example of Pete Carroll's mantra, "Always compete".
In his rookie season, Wilson led the Seahawks to 11 wins, including a playoff win in Washington. Wilson threw for a then-rookie record 26 pass touchdowns to go along with 3,118 passing yards and 489 rushing yards. In his second season, Wilson led the Seahawks to a league-best 13 wins behind 3,357 passing yards and 539 rushing yards.
Forever Grateful. @Seahawks pic.twitter.com/Jdnu2pmN3m
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) July 2, 2024
Seattle was the first seed in the NFC and hosted two playoff games before moving on to Super Bowl XLVIII. The Seahawks dominated the Super Bowl and Wilson completed 72 percent of his passes for two touchdowns as Seattle won its first-ever Super Bowl, 43-8.
By 2014, Wilson had a Super Bowl ring and two Pro Bowl appearances in his two seasons in the NFL. That year, Wilson set a career-high in both passing yards and rushing yards. Seattle won 12 games and was again the first seed in the NFC.
Wilson and Seattle won two more playoff games before advancing to Super Bowl XLIX, which they'd eventually lose to the Patriots in one of the most heartbreaking defeats in league history. Despite the loss, Wilson was named to his third Pro Bowl and was considered one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
From 2015-2021, Wilson was consistently a top-five quarterback in the league. He threw for over 4,000 in four years and had four straight years of 30+ touchdown passes. In ten years starting with the Seahawks, Wilson broke virtually every passing record in Seattle history.
Wilson owns the records for career passing yards (37,059), passing touchdowns (292), completions (3,079), completion percentage (65 percent), wins (113), and winning percentage (65 percent). Although the Seahawks - Wilson divorce in 2022 was ugly, Wilson will likely always be remembered as the best quarterback in Seattle's history.
And in terms of his current relationship with Seattle, following his trade to Denver and subsequent release and signing with Pittsburgh, Wilson and the Seahawks brass have appeared to patch things up. It gives a bit of closure to a rocky end to his career in Seattle.