Even though their houses are now in Virginia, a handful of Washington Redskins, as well as a few Redskins’ coaches—including head coach Jim Zorn—used to call Seattle home.
Shaun Alexander, Ryan Plackemeier, Mike Green, Phillip Daniels, Pete Kendall and Shawn Springs are among the Redskins who have spent time on Seattle’s roster. Stump Mitchell, Washington’s current assistant head coach and running backs coach coached the same position for Seattle for the last seven seasons. Redskins offensive coordinator Sherman Smith was Jim Zorn’s teammate from 1976 until 1982 when he played for the Seahawks.
Zorn served as Seattle’s quarterbacks coach from 2001-2007 and helped develop 
He was the Seahawks inaugural quarterback, as well as the NFLPA Offensive Rookie of the Year, in 1976. He threw for Seattle until 1984. He was inducted into the Seahawks’ Ring of Honor in 1991, just after Steve Largent, one of his most trusted passing targets.
Shaun Alexander
“He was one of the really good guys I’ve ever been around,” Seahawks Head Coach Mike Holmgren said of Zorn at a press conference during training camp this year. “I wish him well. We play them this year and he knows other than that game, I’m pulling for him.”
Now that a few months have passed since Zorn left Seattle, Holmgren is reflective of Zorn’s great qualities and excited to see his friend and colleague.
“He laughs easily,” said Coach Holmgren this week. “He’s smart. He’s young at heart. He has a bundle of energy. I am very, very glad we had a chance to work together. It’ll be fun to see him, and they have a good football team, so I hope it’s a heck of a game.”
Also a member of the Seahawks’ inaugural team, Sherman Smith is now the Redskins’ offensive coordinator.
He stacked up 28 rushing touchdowns and 10 receiving touchdowns as a running back during his career. He led the Seahawks in rushing yards each year from 1976-1980. He is currently sixth on Seattle’s all-time rushing charts with 3,429 yards over his seven seasons with the team.
Zorn is also pleased to have a fellow former Seahawks’ coach on his staff this year, Stump Mitchell. Between Mitchell, Smith and Zorn, the Redskins have transitioned to a West Coast-style offense.
“Stump is an excellent teacher,” Zorn said. “I’ve gotten the opportunity to know him well during our time together in Seattle. I’ve seen firsthand how he teaches.”
As the running backs coach, Mitchell possibly helped influence a decision to pick up Shaun Alexander in October to add to Washington’s depth at running back.
Alexander holds Seahawks’ franchise records for total touchdowns (112) and rushing yards (9,429). He held the NFL single-season record for total touchdowns scored in 2005 (27) until LaDanian Tomlinson reset the record the following season with 31. Alexander was also the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2005, helping lead the Seahawks to Super Bowl XL.
Alexander was released by the Seahawks this past offseason, but Coach Holmgren has fond memories of the talented back.
“It’ll be good to see him again,” Holmgren said. “We were together a long time. If he’s happy, I’m happy. When he wasn’t hurt, he was great—think about what he did. My goodness. He was great for us.”
Seahawks General Manager Tim Ruskell, who called releasing Alexander, “One of the toughest decisions I’ll ever have to make,” shares Holmgren’s sentiments.
“I don’t think we have that Super Bowl run if it’s not for Shaun,” Ruskell said. “I hope when he does retire, he retires a Seahawk.”
Plackemeier, a punter, played the last two seasons with the Seahawks, and he began this season with Seattle before being released in September. He is averaging 44.3 yards per punt with Washington.
Defensive back Mike Green spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons with the Seahawks, and recorded 15 solo tackles last year.
Though these players and coaches are no longer with the Seahawks organization, Seattle has certainly left a lasting impact on all of them.
