A must-watch video on Jim Zorn

Also, as for his stats, it was a MUCH different game in the late 70's and early 80's. There is a reason WR's didn't post 100 catch, 1000 yard years at that time. For some of his career mugging WR's was legal and, even when it wasn't, it was called very differently. And the roughing the passer rules? Please - if the QB was still twitching after being hit, it was legal. Plus, the high percentage passing game (i.e. the Bill Walsh offense) didn't come in until later in his career. Throw in the crappy team he played for and his accomplishments are actually pretty amazing.

Not saying the guy would have been a HOF'er somewhere else, just that, perhaps, judging his stats under todays analysis is misplaced.

I agree. Jim Zorn was a good QB in his day. It was a different time with different rules. You could abuse QB's and WR"s all day long and it was legal. Did anyone else notice he didn't have 1 fumble?....For his whole career?

I watched one of those "NFL's Greatest Games" specials that was about a regular season game between the mighty '85 bears and the Green Bay Packers. It was the one when the Fridge caught a touchdown pass. Halfway, thru the game I realized that Zorn was QB for the Packers.

He played OK. At one point, he caught the famed 46 defense in a blitz and hit a long TD pass.

For those of you who say he sucked, you are wrong. I watched Zorn play from his 1st day as a Seahawk (yeah, I'm an old bastard) he had the connection with Steve Largent (HOF WR, he didn't get there without Zorn's help). Zorn played for a shitty expansion team so if you think his numbers sucked I attribute it to playing for an expansion team and being a rookie to boot.

I always loved Zorn-to-Largent. They were fun to watch.

Also, as for his stats, it was a MUCH different game in the late 70's and early 80's. There is a reason WR's didn't post 100 catch, 1000 yard years at that time. For some of his career mugging WR's was legal and, even when it wasn't, it was called very differently. And the roughing the passer rules? Please - if the QB was still twitching after being hit, it was legal. Plus, the high percentage passing game (i.e. the Bill Walsh offense) didn't come in until later in his career. Throw in the crappy team he played for and his accomplishments are actually pretty amazing.

Not saying the guy would have been a HOF'er somewhere else, just that, perhaps, judging his stats under todays analysis is misplaced.

Very true. Football is hard to compare from decade to decade because the rules have changed so much. It is moronic to compare numbers only. Greatest QB ever? Sammy Baugh or Johnny Unitas. Compared against Trent Green or Sage Rosenfels numbers, they are adequate. If you can't complete 65% now, you aren't an NFL QB. In 1978, no qb completed over 65% of his passes.
I hate that I am an old bastard at 34, but dammit, kids, learn the history of the game.

I watched one of those "NFL's Greatest Games" specials that was about a regular season game between the mighty '85 bears and the Green Bay Packers. It was the one when the Fridge caught a touchdown pass. Halfway, thru the game I realized that Zorn was QB for the Packers.

He played OK. At one point, he caught the famed 46 defense in a blitz and hit a long TD pass.

I've seen that game a few times, BECAUSE Zorn was the QB. :)

That's funny he looks smaller than Doug Flutie & he's trying to teach JC to be a pocket passer. LOL

HTTR.

He's 6'2". Flutie is a midget.

Yeah I was kind of thinking the same thing. I wouldn't say he sucked, but he sure wasn't very good. His very best season as a pro was 1978, when his numbers looked about the same as Brunell's in 2005. And throwing 30 more career INTs than TDs is paltry to say the least. 27 INTs in 14 games in 1976. Wow. 18+ INTs in 5 different seasons.

Yeah, I'm glad he's our coach and not our QB. :)

One thing that seems to hold true in football is that your success on the field doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be a good coach. Sometimes it's the worst players that become the best coaches.

I agree. Jim Zorn was a good QB in his day. It was a different time with different rules. You could abuse QB's and WR"s all day long and it was legal. Did anyone else notice he didn't have 1 fumble?....For his whole career?

It was probably not official recorded. He actually had 54, according to Pro-Football Reference. He was much better than his successor by a long shot though.