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David Michael Krieg ( ; born October 20, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He attended Milton College in his home state of Wisconsin and made the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. In his 18-year NFL career, Krieg played for the Seahawks (1980–1991), Kansas City Chiefs (1992–1993), Detroit Lions (1994), Arizona Cardinals (1995), Chicago Bears (1996), and Tennessee Oilers (1997–1998).
Dave Krieg played in 12 postseason games (9 as a starter), and completed 51.1 percent of his passes (144 for 282) for 1,895 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 70.86 rating. He also had 17 rushing attempts for 20 yards and 1 touchdown.
By the middle of the 1981 season, Krieg overtook Sam Adkins on the depth chart to become the Seahawks' second-string quarterback. When injuries sidelined Jim Zorn late in the season, Krieg Starting lineup the last three games and played well, helping the team record two of its six wins that year. Dave Krieg: Game Logs In his first NFL start against the New York Jets on December 6, Krieg ran for one touchdown and threw for two others, including a 57-yard game-winning completion to Steve Largent. Dave Krieg profile, statistics and more
Krieg began the strike-shortened 1982 season as the Seahawks' starting quarterback and played respectably until a thumb injury sidelined him for several weeks. Zorn reclaimed his former role, but played inconsistently. When Zorn continued to struggle in the final game of the season, Jim Zorn: Game Logs Coach Mike McCormack inserted Krieg, who rallied Seattle to a victory over the Denver Broncos. Dave Krieg: Game Logs
Returning to the bench at the outset of the 1983 campaign, Krieg remained there until Zorn's performance faltered in midseason. At that point, head coach Chuck Knox named Krieg the Seahawks' new starting quarterback. The Milton product's consistent play complemented the considerable talents of All-Pro wide receiver Steve Largent and Pro Bowl running back Curt Warner, allowing the Seahawks to make the playoffs for the first time in the team's eighth season. Krieg played brilliantly in the wild card round of the playoffs, helping his team rout Steve DeBerg and the Broncos in the Kingdome. The next week, Krieg's steady performance helped the Seahawks upset Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins on the road. However, Krieg and Seahawks offense were overwhelmed by the aggressive defense of the L.A. Raiders in the American Football Conference Championship Game. Knox replaced Krieg with Jim Zorn to finish out the game as the visiting Seahawks lost to the Raiders, who went on to win Super Bowl XVIII. Dave Krieg: Game Logs
Despite a prodigious effort by Mike McCormack to recruit Warren Moon to join the QB ranks in Seattle, Krieg resumed his starting role 1984 after Moon declined Seattle's offer and chose to play for the Houston Oilers instead. In the year's first game, a knee injury sidelined the Seahawks' star running back Curt Warner for the rest of the season, forcing Coach Knox to discard his run-oriented "Ground Chuck" offense and adopt a new, more pass-intensive philosophy "Air Knox." Rising to the occasion, Krieg threw for 3,671 yards and 32 touchdowns, leading his team to a 12–4 record and another wild card playoff appearance. In recognition of this impressive performance, Krieg's NFL peers named him to his first Pro Bowl. Moreover, his steady play helped the Seahawks eliminate the reigning Super Bowl champion Raiders in a wild card showdown in the Kingdome. Krieg also played well in Miami the following week, but the Dolphins defeated the Seahawks and went on to lose Super Bowl XIX. Dave Krieg: Game Logs
Krieg's inconsistency contributed to the mediocrity of the Seahawks in 1985. In the team's eight victories, Krieg's passer rating averaged more than 114—an excellent mark—but in their eight losses, his rating hovered just above a dismal 40. Dave Krieg: Game Logs
In 1986, Krieg played well initially, leading the Seahawks to a 5–3 record. However, he faltered in midseason, so Coach Knox benched him in favor of Gale Gilbert. When that remedy failed to avert a four-game losing streak, Knox gave Krieg another chance. Nicknamed "Mudbone" by his Seattle teammates, Seahawks/NFL: 'Mudbone' embodied Hawks' grit Krieg led the Seahawks on five-game winning streak to finish the season, during which his passer rating exceeded 126. Dave Krieg: Game Logs That December, Krieg was named AFC Player of the Month. However, the 10-6 Seahawks failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Despite a brief midseason slump, Krieg played more consistently during the strike-shortened 1987 season. In the year's first game, Krieg set a team record by throwing his 108th touchdown; in less than four years as a starter, Krieg had broken a record Zorn had compiled over more than seven starting seasons. Krieg proceeded to lead the Seahawks to another playoff appearance, but Krieg's performance failed to prevent a narrow loss on the road in the first round against the Houston Oilers. Dave Krieg: Game Logs
During the offseason, the Seahawks acquired Kelly Stouffer from the Phoenix Cardinals, and began to groom him as the Franchise player quarterback of the future.
Perhaps due to this increased competition, Krieg's consistency increased further in 1988. Although he missed seven games with a separated shoulder, his excellent play helped propel the Seahawks to their first AFC West Division Championship. In the regular season finale, Krieg dissected the Raiders' secondary, throwing for 410 yards and four touchdowns, thereby securing the division title at 9–7 and relegating the Raiders to a wild card berth. However, Krieg's pedestrian performance on the road in the playoffs contributed to the Seahawks' swift elimination at the hands of the top-seeded Cincinnati Bengals. Dave Krieg: Game Logs Nevertheless, Krieg's strong regular season showing earned him another Pro Bowl appearance.
In the spring of 1989, Krieg competed in NBC Sports's prestigious Superstars competition, a series of physical challenges pitting athletes from various sports against one another. Krieg placed third overall, behind Willie Gault and Herschel Walker. He placed first in the basketball and rowing events, beating athletes including Gault, Walker, Randall Cunningham, Evander Holyfield, and Carl Lewis. 1989 MEN'S FINAL
In 1989, Krieg struggled to lead an offense depleted by injuries. All-Pro Steve Largent missed several games because of a fractured elbow. The running game sputtered as injuries slowed Curt Warner, and the aging offensive line struggled to open holes for him. Krieg came to rely on fullback John L. Williams after Largent retired that season. Although the Seahawks managed only a 7–9 record, Krieg played well enough to earn a return trip to the Pro Bowl, where he performed impressively, helping lead the AFC to victory. Dave Krieg: Game Logs
Krieg's burden grew heavier in 1990, with the retirement of Largent and the continued decline of the offensive line and the running game. Consequently, inconsistency again plagued Krieg. His play ranged from awful (2 games with passer ratings below 15) to mediocre (5 games in the 50s and 60s) to good (4 games in the 70s, 80s, or 90s) to brilliant (5 games with ratings over 100). In the most memorable game of the season, on November 11, the Seahawks made their annual visit to Arrowhead Stadium, where they had not won since 1980. The Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback sack Krieg 9 times, including an NFL-record 7 sacks by linebacker Derrick Thomas. However, on the last play of the game, as time expired, Thomas closed in for yet another apparent sack, but Krieg eluded the linebacker and threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Paul Skansi for the win. Krieg's leadership helped the Seahawks compile a respectable 9–7 record in 1990, but they again missed the playoffs.
In the 1991 NFL draft, the Seahawks used their first-round pick on another quarterback of the future, Dan McGwire.
After breaking his thumb in the season opener, Krieg missed six games in 1991. Without a strong supporting cast, Krieg turned in another inconsistent year. The Seahawks finished a disappointing 7–9, leading to the resignation of Coach Knox. Seattle General Manager Tom Flores decided to retain Stouffer and McGwire, and to let Krieg become a free agent. That decision helped doom the Seahawks to several seasons of misery and mediocrity under a succession of uninspired quarterbacks. Despite having an outstanding defense in 1992, their overall record of remains the worst in franchise history.
In the offseason, the Chiefs signed Joe Montana and made him their starting quarterback. However, Krieg still saw substantial action in 1993, relieving Montana in six games, and starting five games for the oft-injured Hall of Famer. Together, Montana and Krieg led the Chiefs to an 11–5 record and an AFC West Championship. In the , when the Chiefs hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers, an injured Montana briefly left the game. In relief, Krieg threw just one pass, a 23-yard touchdown. Two weeks later, at the in Buffalo, Montana sustained a concussion and left the game in the third quarter. Krieg led a 90-yard touchdown drive to bring the Chiefs within 7 points, but the Buffalo Bills scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to qualify for their fourth straight Super Bowl appearance.
However, in the 1998 season opener in Cincinnati, McNair exited the game with a bruised elbow. Krieg—by then nearly 40 years old—came off the bench to rally the Oilers to victory, going 7-of-13 for 129 yards. Although McNair recovered from his injury and could have re-entered the game, the team let Krieg finish. "Dave was in the zone", McNair explained. "He was doing a great job moving the team up and down the field. It's a matter of doing what's right (for the team). At that time, what was right was letting Dave stay in." CNN/SI – NFL Football – Six starting QBs injured in NFL's first week – Sunday September 06, 1998 10:20 PM
Later that month, the Jacksonville Jaguars knocked McNair out of a game, but Krieg's comeback effort failed. He went 1-of-3 for 10 yards while being sacked twice. He appeared in two other games, going 3-of-3 for 57 yards in relief during a 44–14 blowout of Cincinnati and going 1-of-2 for 3 yards in a loss to the Jets. His final completion was to Mike Archie, done in the final quarter. CNN/SI – Football – NFL Recap (Jacksonville-Tennessee) – September 27, 1998
Krieg was released by the rechristened Tennessee Titans in July 1999 after the team signed Neil O'Donnell to backup McNair. Krieg was not in training camp that season, but intended on playing a 20th NFL season. He wouldn't make his retirement official until 2000 after no takers emerged for his services. He retired as a Seahawk, and held his press conference in Cheney because it was the site of his first camp in 1980. Head coach Mike Holmgren said of Krieg, "I always wanted him to play for me, but he was way too expensive every year."
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Krieg long kept the origin of his nickname, "Mudbone", a secret. Jim Zorn outed him. His nickname was nominated by teammate Byron Walker, and overwhelmingly voted in by his team. The name comes from the Richard Pryor character Mudbone.
Krieg was a color commentator for the NFL on FOX from 2001 to 2002.
He was inducted into the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor in 2004.
Krieg also became part owner of the af2's Green Bay Blizzard in 2007 along with former Green Bay Packer linebacker Brian Noble.
In January 2017, Krieg raised the 12 Flag atop the Space Needle a few days before the Seahawks defeated the Detroit Lions, 26–6, in an NFL Wild Card playoff game.
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