View source for Dave Krieg

{{Short description|American football player (born 1958)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{original research|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image         =
| position      = [[Quarterback]]
| number        = 17
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1958|10|20}}
| birth_place   = [[Iola, Wisconsin]], U.S.
| death_date    = 
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 1
| weight_lbs    = 193
| undraftedyear = 1980
| high_school   = [[D.C. Everest School District|D.C. Everest]] {{nowrap|([[Schofield, Wisconsin]])}}
| college       = [[Milton Wildcats football|Milton]] (1976–1979)
| teams         =
* [[Seattle Seahawks]] ([[1980 NFL season|1980]]–[[1991 NFL season|1991]])
* [[Kansas City Chiefs]] ([[1992 NFL season|1992]]–[[1993 NFL season|1993]])
* [[Detroit Lions]] ([[1994 NFL season|1994]])
* [[Arizona Cardinals]] ([[1995 NFL season|1995]])
* [[Chicago Bears]] ([[1996 NFL season|1996]])
* [[Tennessee Oilers]] ([[1997 NFL season|1997]]–[[1998 NFL season|1998]])
| highlights    =
* 3× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1985 Pro Bowl|1984]], [[1989 Pro Bowl|1988]], [[1990 Pro Bowl|1989]])
* [[List of National Football League annual pass completion percentage leaders|NFL completion percentage leader]] (1991)
* [[Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor]]
| statlabel1    = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue1    = 261–199
| statlabel2    = Passing yards
| statvalue2    = 38,147
| statlabel3    = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue3    = 81.5
| pfr           = KrieDa00 
}}
'''David Michael Krieg''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|eɪ|ɡ}} {{respell|KRAYG|'}}; born October 20, 1958) is an American former professional [[American football|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 [[1980 Seattle Seahawks football team|Seattle Seahawks]] as an [[Undrafted sportsperson|undrafted]] [[free agent]]. In his 18-year NFL career, Krieg played for the Seahawks (1980–1991), [[1992 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] (1992–1993), [[1994 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] (1994), [[1995 Arizona Cardinals season|Arizona Cardinals]] (1995), [[1996 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] (1996), and [[1997 Tennessee Oilers season|Tennessee Oilers]] (1997–1998).

==College career==
At [[Milton College|Milton]], a now-defunct small [[Private university|private college]] in [[Milton, Wisconsin]], Krieg began as the 7th-string quarterback for his school's [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] team, the [[Milton Wildcats football|Wildcats]]. Given the opportunity to play in the fourth game of his freshman season (1976), he [[Completion (American football)|completed]] four passes—three of them for [[touchdown]]s—and continued to play well enough to start for the rest of his college career.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.davekrieg.org/dave.html | title=About Dave Krieg | access-date=July 7, 2008 | archive-date=March 19, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319070536/http://www.davekrieg.org/dave.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> He and [[Dave Kraayeveld]] (who also played for the Seahawks) are the only NFL players to have attended Milton College.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.seahawkslegends.com/dave-krieg-the-man-from-milton/ | title=Dave Krieg: The Man from Milton | first=Scott M. | last=Johnson | date=September 20, 2011 | publisher=SeahawksLegends.com | access-date=August 21, 2017 | archive-date=August 22, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822012046/http://www.seahawkslegends.com/dave-krieg-the-man-from-milton/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Professional career==
In 19 seasons, Krieg played in 213 games, and completed 58.5 percent of his passes (3,105 of 5,311) for 38,147 passing yards, 261 touchdowns, 199 [[interception]]s and an 81.5 rating.  He also had 417 rushing attempts for 1,261 yards and 13 touchdowns and 3 pass [[Reception (American football)|receptions]] for 10 yards.  His regular season [[List of most wins by a National Football League starting quarterback|career win–loss record]] is 98–77.

Dave Krieg played in 12 [[National Football League playoffs|postseason games]] (9 as a [[NFL starting quarterback playoff records|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.

===Seattle Seahawks===
Undrafted in [[1980 NFL draft|1980]], Krieg tried out for the Seahawks and caught on as a third-string quarterback. He saw the field only once, taking a few [[Snap (football)|snaps]] with two incompletions in the final game in [[1980 Seattle Seahawks season|1980]],<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/davekrieg/gamelogs?id=KRI069215&season=1980 Dave Krieg: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the Seahawks' ninth straight loss in a disappointing 4–12 season in which they lost all eight home games.<ref name=lsallet>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b1hYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7-EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4261%2C7444142 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |title=Broncos, 25-17|date=December 22, 1980 |page=3C}}</ref>

By the middle of the [[1981 Seattle Seahawks season|1981]] season, Krieg overtook [[Sam Adkins (American football)|Sam Adkins]] on the [[National Football League depth chart|depth chart]] to become the Seahawks' second-string quarterback. When injuries sidelined [[Jim Zorn]] late in the season, Krieg [[Starting lineup|started]] the last three games and played well, helping the team record two of its six wins that year.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/davekrieg/gamelogs?id=KRI069215&season=1981 Dave Krieg: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In his first NFL start against the [[1981 New York Jets season|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]].<ref name=mjbtjet>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Pk8aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0CkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6843%2C5107592 |work=Milwaukee Journal |last=Begel |first=Dave |title=Milton's Krieg bets a chance, leads Seahawks to victory |date=December 7, 1981 |page=3, part 3 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=shkjol>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Fk9OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ee4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5541%2C3573758 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Blitzkrieg! Seahawks jolt Jets 27-23 |date=December 7, 1981 |page=15}}</ref><ref name=pilsho>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CPVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WuIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5417%2C1836055 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=wire services |title=Seattle's new Pilot shoots down Jets, 27-23 |date=December 7, 1981 |page=1B}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated2>[http://static.espn.go.com/nfl/profiles/notes/0198.html Dave Krieg profile, statistics and more<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Krieg began the [[1982 NFL Players Strike#1982 strike|strike-shortened]] [[1982 Seattle Seahawks season|1982]] season as the Seahawks' starting quarterback and played respectably until a thumb injury sidelined him for several weeks.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> Zorn reclaimed his former role, but played inconsistently. When Zorn continued to struggle in the final game of the season,<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/jimzorn/gamelogs?id=ZOR622935&season=1982 Jim Zorn: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Coach [[Mike McCormack (American football)|Mike McCormack]] inserted Krieg, who rallied Seattle to a victory over the [[1982 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]].<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/davekrieg/gamelogs?id=KRI069215&season=1982 Dave Krieg: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Returning to the bench at the outset of the [[1983 Seattle Seahawks season|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 [[1983–84 NFL playoffs|playoffs]] for the first time in the team's eighth season. Krieg played brilliantly in the [[Wild card (sports)|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 [[1983 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] on the road. However, Krieg and Seahawks offense were overwhelmed by the aggressive defense of the [[1983 Los Angeles Raiders season|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]].<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/davekrieg/gamelogs?id=KRI069215&season=1983 Dave Krieg: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Despite a prodigious effort by Mike McCormack to recruit [[Warren Moon]] to join the QB ranks in Seattle, Krieg resumed his starting role  [[1984 Seattle Seahawks season|1984]] after Moon declined Seattle's offer and chose to play for the [[1984 Houston Oilers season|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 [[1985 Pro Bowl|Pro Bowl]]. Moreover, his steady play helped the Seahawks eliminate the reigning Super Bowl champion [[1984 Los Angeles Raiders season|Raiders]] in a wild card showdown in the Kingdome. Krieg also played well in Miami the following week, but the [[1984 Miami Dolphins season|Dolphins]] defeated the Seahawks and went on to lose [[Super Bowl XIX]].<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/davekrieg/gamelogs?id=KRI069215&season=1984 Dave Krieg: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Krieg's inconsistency contributed to the mediocrity of the Seahawks in [[1985 Seattle Seahawks season|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.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/davekrieg/gamelogs?id=KRI069215&season=1985 Dave Krieg: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In [[1986 Seattle Seahawks season|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,<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.seattlepi.com/football/192280_clare24.html Seahawks/NFL: 'Mudbone' embodied Hawks' grit<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Krieg led the Seahawks on five-game winning streak to finish the season, during which his passer rating exceeded 126.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/davekrieg/gamelogs?id=KRI069215&season=1986 Dave Krieg: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> That December, Krieg was named AFC Player of the Month.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> 
However, the 10-6 Seahawks failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Despite a brief midseason slump, Krieg played more consistently during the [[National Football League Players Association#1987 strike and decertification|strike-shortened]] [[1987 Seattle Seahawks season|1987]] season. In the year's first game, Krieg set a team record by throwing his 108th touchdown;<ref name=autogenerated2 /> 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]].<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/davekrieg/gamelogs?id=KRI069215&season=1987 Dave Krieg: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

During the offseason, the Seahawks acquired [[Kelly Stouffer]] from the [[1987 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|Phoenix Cardinals]], and began to groom him as the [[Franchise player|franchise]] quarterback of the future.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/2001/03/20/sayitaintso_seahawks/ |title=CNNSI.com - NFL Football - Say It Ain't So: Seattle Seahawks - Tuesday July 17, 2001 09:01 AM |access-date=August 23, 2008 |archive-date=September 9, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070909062712/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/2001/03/20/sayitaintso_seahawks/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Perhaps due to this increased competition, Krieg's consistency increased further in [[1988 Seattle Seahawks season|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 [[1988 Los Angeles Raiders season|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 [[1988–89 NFL playoffs|playoffs]] contributed to the Seahawks' swift elimination at the hands of the top-seeded [[1988 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]].<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/davekrieg/gamelogs?id=KRI069215&season=1988 Dave Krieg: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Nevertheless, Krieg's strong regular season showing earned him another Pro Bowl appearance.

In the spring of 1989, Krieg competed in [[NBC Sports|NBC]]'s prestigious ''[[Superstars (American TV program)|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 (sport)|rowing]] events, beating athletes including Gault, Walker, [[Randall Cunningham]], [[Evander Holyfield]], and [[Carl Lewis]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030512103411/http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Dugout/8973/comp/89final.html  1989 MEN'S FINAL<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In [[1989 Seattle Seahawks season|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 (American football)|fullback]] [[John L. Williams (American football)|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.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/davekrieg/gamelogs?id=KRI069215&season=1989 Dave Krieg: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Krieg's burden grew heavier in [[1990 Seattle Seahawks season|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 [[1990 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] [[Quarterback sack|sacked]] 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 Seattle Seahawks season|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.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/2001/03/20/sayitaintso_seahawks/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010618000251/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/2001/03/20/sayitaintso_seahawks/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 18, 2001|title=TITLE NEEDED|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=March 20, 2001}}</ref> Despite having an outstanding defense in [[1992 Seattle Seahawks season|1992]], their overall record of {{winning percentage|2|14|record=y}} remains the worst in franchise history.

===Kansas City Chiefs===
Krieg signed with the Seahawks' division rivals, the [[Kansas City Chiefs]], and started for them throughout [[1992 Kansas City Chiefs season|1992]], leading his new team to a 10–6 record, including two victories over [[1992 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle]]. However, Krieg's poor performance in the playoffs on the road contributed to the [[1992–93 NFL playoffs#AFC: San Diego Chargers 17, Kansas City Chiefs 0|wild-card Chiefs' swift elimination]] by the [[1992 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nfl.com/player/davekrieg/2501661/gamelogs?season=1992 | title=Dave Krieg: 1992 Game Logs | work=NFL.com}}</ref>

In the offseason, the Chiefs signed [[Joe Montana]] and made him their starting quarterback. However, Krieg still saw substantial action in [[1993 Kansas City Chiefs season|1993]], relieving Montana in six games, and starting five games for the oft-injured [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]]. Together, Montana and Krieg led the Chiefs to an 11–5 record and an AFC West Championship. In the [[1993–94 NFL playoffs#AFC: Kansas City Chiefs 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 24|wild-card round of the playoffs]], 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nfl.com/player/davekrieg/2501661/gamelogs?season=1993 | title=Dave Krieg: 1993 Game Logs | work=NFL.com}}</ref> Two weeks later, at the [[1993–94 NFL playoffs#AFC Championship: Buffalo Bills 30, Kansas City Chiefs 13|AFC Championship Game]] 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 [[1993 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to qualify for [[Super Bowl XXVIII|their fourth straight Super Bowl appearance]].

===Detroit Lions===
In 1994, Krieg signed with the [[Detroit Lions]] to back up [[Scott Mitchell (quarterback)|Scott Mitchell]]. Although Mitchell's erratic play contributed to the team's poor 4–5 start,<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/scottmitchell/gamelogs?id=MIT766982&season=1994 Scott Mitchell: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> coach [[Wayne Fontes]] stuck with the young quarterback as his starter until an injury sidelined him in mid-season.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> Krieg came off the bench and ignited a dynamic offense showcasing the talents of running back [[Barry Sanders]] and wide receiver [[Herman Moore]]. Statistically, the 1994 season was the best of Krieg's career: Krieg completed 61.8% of his passes and threw 14 touchdowns versus only 3 interceptions, for a passer rating of 101.7.  Moreover, Krieg's leadership rallied the Lions to a 5–2 regular season finish and a wild card playoff berth. Despite Krieg's solid play, the visiting Lions lost narrowly to the [[Green Bay Packers]] in the first round of the playoffs.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/davekrieg/gamelogs?id=KRI069215&season=1994 Dave Krieg: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Although Krieg had set Detroit Lions regular-season records for fewest passes intercepted (3) and highest passer rating (101.7), the team decided to stick with Mitchell and let Krieg become a free agent.

===Arizona Cardinals===
The [[Arizona Cardinals]] rewarded Krieg for his 1994 performance by signing him to be their starting quarterback in 1995. However, operating behind a porous offensive line, Krieg had another inconsistent year. Again, his passer rating told the tale: 3 horrible games (below 50), 4 mediocre ones (50s and 60s), 5 good efforts (70s and 80s), and 4 outstanding performances (90s or better). However, even Krieg's good games rarely resulted in Cardinals victories.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/davekrieg/gamelogs?id=KRI069215&season=1995 Dave Krieg: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The team went 4–12, which resulted in head coach [[Buddy Ryan]] and Krieg losing their jobs.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E05EFD61539F934A15751C1A963958260 PRO FOOTBALL;Abrasive Ryan Discovers It's a Desert Out There – New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

===Chicago Bears===
In 1996, the [[Chicago Bears]] signed Krieg to back up [[Erik Kramer]]. Although Kramer's poor play contributed to the Bears' feeble 1–3 beginning, Coach [[Dave Wannstedt]] allowed him to continue starting until an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Krieg – by then 38 years old – came off the bench and helped rally an injury-wracked Bears team to a respectable 6–6 finish.<ref>[http://www.bearshistory.com/seasons/1996chicagobears.aspx 1996 Chicago Bears<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Statistically, Krieg's performance was inconsistent: his passer rating ranged from subpar (4 games below 60) to mediocre (2 games in the 60s) to good (3 games in the 80s and 90s) to outstanding (3 games over 100).<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/davekrieg/gamelogs?id=KRI069215&season=1996 Dave Krieg: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

===Tennessee Oilers===
Dave Krieg finished his career with the [[Tennessee Titans|Tennessee Oilers]], backing up the seldom-injured [[Steve McNair]] in 1997 and 1998. Even when the young starter played poorly,<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/stevemcnair/gamelogs?id=MCN033803&season=1997 Steve McNair: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> coach [[Jeff Fisher]] declined to insert Krieg. On rare occasions, Krieg would mop up in [[garbage time]] or [[Quarterback kneel|take a knee]] at the end of a game.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/davekrieg/gamelogs?id=KRI069215&season=1997 Dave Krieg: Game Logs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

However, in the [[1998 Tennessee Oilers season|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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bengals.enquirer.com/1998/09/090798oilers.html |title=So close, so ... Bengals<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716143929/http://bengals.enquirer.com/1998/09/090798oilers.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090802064653/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/1998/09/06/nfl_injuries/ CNN/SI – NFL Football – Six starting QBs injured in NFL's first week – Sunday September 06, 1998 10:20 PM<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

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.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20000930041836/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/scoreboards/1998/09/27/recap.tennessee.jacksonville.html CNN/SI – Football – NFL Recap (Jacksonville-Tennessee) – September 27, 1998<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KrieDa00/gamelog/1998/|title = Dave Krieg 1998 Game Log|website = [[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]}}</ref>

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."<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/dave-krieg-officially-ends-his-career-1.232522| title = Dave Krieg officially ends his career {{!}} CBC News}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#ff0; width:3em;"|
| [[Pro Bowl]] selection
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| style="background:#e0cef2; width:3em;"|
| NFL record
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

=== Regular season ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="9"| Passing
! colspan="2" |Sacked
|-
! GP !! GS !! Record !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Lng !! Rtg 
!Sck
!SckY
|-
! [[1980 NFL season|1980]] !! [[1980 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| 1 || 0 || − || 0 || 2 || 0.0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 39.6 
|1
|6
|-
! [[1981 NFL season|1981]] !! [[1981 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| 7 || 3 || 2−1 || 64 || 112 || 57.1 || 843 || 7.5 || 7 || 5 || 57 || 83.3 
|11
|85
|-
! [[1982 NFL season|1982]] !! [[1982 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| 3 || 2 || 0−2 || 49 || 78 || 62.8 || 501 || 6.4 || 2 || 2 || 44 || 79.1 
|16
|117
|-
! [[1983 NFL season|1983]] !! [[1983 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| 9 || 8 || 5−3 || 147 || 243 || 60.5 || 2,139 || 8.8 || 18 || 11 || 50 || 95.0 
|38
|279
|-
! style="background:#ffff00"|[[1984 NFL season|1984]] !! [[1984 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || '''12−4''' || 276 || 480 || 57.5 || '''3,671''' || 7.6 || '''32''' || style="background:#cfecec;|'''24''' || '''80''' || 83.3 
|40
|314
|-
! [[1985 NFL season|1985]] !! [[1985 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 8−8 || 285 || '''532''' || 53.6 || 3,602 || 6.8 || 27 || 20 || 54 || 76.2 || 52 || style="background:#cfecec; | '''448'''
|-
! [[1986 NFL season|1986]] !! [[1986 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| 15 || 14 || 10−4 || 225 || 375 || 60.0 || 2,921 || 7.8 || 21 || 11 || 72 || 91.0
|35
|281
|-
! [[1987 NFL season|1987]] !! [[1987 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| 12 || 12 || 7−5 || 178 || 294 || 60.5 || 2,131 || 7.2 || 23 || 15 || 75 || 87.6 
|27
|247
|-
! style="background:#ffff00;"|[[1988 NFL season|1988]] !! [[1988 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| 9 || 9 || 6−3 || 134 || 228 || 58.8 || 1,741 || 7.6 || 18 || 8 || 75 || 94.6
|12
|92
|-
! style="background:#ffff00"|[[1989 NFL season|1989]] !! [[1989 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| 15 || 14 || 7−7 || 286 || 499 || 57.3 || 3,309 || 6.6 || 21 || 20 || 60 || 74.8 
|37
|289
|-
! [[1990 NFL season|1990]] !! [[1990 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 9–7 || 265 || 448 || 59.2 || 3,194 || 7.1 || 15 || 20 || 63 || 73.6
|40
|360
|-
! [[1991 NFL season|1991]] !! [[1991 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| 10 || 9 || 4–5 || 187 || 285 || style="background:#cfecec;|'''65.6''' || 2,080 || 7.3 || 11 || 12 || 60 || 82.5 
|32
|216
|-
! [[1992 NFL season|1992]] !! [[1992 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 10–6 || 230 || 413 || 55.7 || 3,115 || 7.5 || 15 || 12 || 77 || 79.9
|48
|323
|-
! [[1993 NFL season|1993]] !! [[1993 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 12 || 5 || 3−2 || 105 || 189 || 55.6 || 1,238 || 6.6 || 7 || 3 || 66 || 81.4 
|22
|138
|-
! [[1994 NFL season|1994]] !! [[1994 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 14 || 7 || 5−2 || 131 || 212 || 61.8 || 1,629 || 7.7 || 14 || 3 || 51 || '''101.7''' 
|14
|100
|-
! [[1995 NFL season|1995]] !! [[1995 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 4–12 || '''304''' || 521 || 58.3 || 3,554 || 6.8 || 16 || style="background:#cfecec;|21 || 48 || 72.6 || style="background:#cfecec; | '''53''' || style="background:#cfecec; | 380
|-
! [[1996 NFL season|1996]] !! [[1996 Chicago Bears season|CHI]]
| 13 || 12 || 6–6 || 226 || 377 || 59.9 || 2,278 || 6.0 || 14 || 12 || 53 || 76.3 
|14
|104
|-
! [[1997 NFL season|1997]] !! [[1997 Tennessee Oilers season|TEN]]
| 8 || 0 || – || 1 || 2 || 50.0 || 2 || 1.0 ||  0 || 0 || 2 || 56.2
|0
|0
|-
! [[1998 NFL season|1998]] !! [[1998 Tennessee Oilers season|TEN]]
| 5 || 0 || – || 12 || 21 || 57.1 || 199 || '''9.5''' || 0 || 0 || 55 || 89.2
|2
|15
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 213 !! 175 !! 98−77 !! 3,105 !! 5,311 !! 58.5 !! 38,147 !! 7.2 !! 261 !! 199 !! 80 !! 81.5 !!494 !! style="background:#e0cef2; | 3,794
|}

=== Playoffs ===
{| class="wikitable " style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="9"| Passing
|-
! GP !! GS !! Record !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Lng !! Rtg 
|-
! [[1983–84 NFL playoffs|1983]] !! [[1983 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| '''3''' || '''3''' || '''2−1''' || '''30''' || '''50''' || '''60.0''' || '''404''' || '''8.1''' || '''4''' || 4 || 41 || 79.1 
|-
! [[1984–85 NFL playoffs|1984]] !! [[1984 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| 2 || 2 || 1–1 || 24 || 45 || 53.3 || 304 || 6.8 || 2 || '''0''' || '''56''' || '''89.5''' 
|-
! [[1987–88 NFL playoffs|1987]] !! [[1987 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| 1 || 1 || 0−1 || 16 || 38 || 42.1 || 237 || 6.2 || 2 || '''0''' || 33 || 80.7 
|-
! [[1988–89 NFL playoffs|1988]] !! [[1988 Seattle Seahawks season|SEA]]
| 1 || 1 || 0–1 || 24 || '''50''' || 48.0 || 297 || 5.9 || 1 || 2 || 37 || 56.8
|-
! [[1992–93 NFL playoffs|1992]] !! [[1992 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 1 || 1 || 0−1 || 16 || 34 || 47.1 || 233 || 6.9 || 0 || 2 || 28 || 45.3
|-
! [[1993–94 NFL playoffs|1993]] !! [[1993 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 3 || 0 || − || 17 || 30 || 56.7 || 221 || 7.4 || 1 || 1 || 27 || 77.2 
|-
! [[1994–95 NFL playoffs|1994]] !! [[1994 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 1 || 1 || 0−1 || 17 || 35 || 48.6 || 199 || 5.7 || 1 || '''0''' || 46 || 75.8 
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 12 !! 9 !! 3−6 !! 144 !! 282 !! 51.1 !! 1,895 !! 6.7 !! 11 !! 9 !! 56 !! 72.3
|}

==Notable accomplishments==
*One of three quarterbacks to record at least 20,000 yards, 169 touchdowns, and 57 wins as a starter in the 1980s, joining hall of famers Dan Marino and Joe Montana <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stathead.com/tiny/hNXTP|title = Player Season Finder}}</ref>
* Holds Seahawks record for most games with 400 or more yards passing (4)<ref>{{cite web|title = Most Games 400+ Yards Passing, career|work=pro-football-reference.com|url = http://pfref.com/tiny/uDnQv|access-date = January 8, 2016}}</ref>
* Had two games with a [[List of NFL quarterbacks who have posted a perfect passer rating|perfect passer rating]].
* Led three different franchises to the playoffs ([[Seattle Seahawks]], [[1992 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]], [[1994 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]])
* Most sack yards lost by a QB (career): 3,794<ref>{{Cite web |title=Most Sacks Yards Lost By A Qb In A Career |url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/most-sacks-yards-lost-by-a-qb-in-a-career |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=StatMuse |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dave Krieg Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KrieDa00.htm |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Other==

For many years Krieg held the NFL record for most career fumbles, a result of both a lengthy career at quarterback and unusually small hands for the position.  Krieg has now been surpassed by both [[Brett Favre]] and [[Warren Moon]] for career fumbles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/fumbles_career.htm|title=NFL Career Fumbles Leaders|publisher=Pro Football Reference|access-date=September 9, 2015}}</ref>

Krieg long kept the origin of his nickname, "Mudbone", a secret. [[Jim Zorn]] outed him. His nickname was nominated by teammate [[Byron Walker|Byron "Bones" Walker]], and overwhelmingly voted in by his team. The name comes from the [[Richard Pryor]] character [[Mudbone (character)|Mudbone]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seahawks Stories: Dave Krieg |url=https://www.seahawks.com/audio/seahawks-stories-dave-krieg |access-date=January 1, 2025 |website=[[Seattle Seahawks]]}}</ref>

==Since retirement==

Krieg is now a [[motivational speaker]] and [[real estate investor]] in [[Phoenix, Arizona]].<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002734708_hawkwhere12.html Seahawks Greats: Where are they now?]</ref>

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.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

Krieg also became part owner of the [[af2]]'s [[Green Bay Blizzard]] in 2007 along with former Green Bay Packer linebacker [[Brian Noble (American football)|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seahawks.com/photos/seahawks-legend-dave-krieg-raises-12-flag-at-space-needle-180596#ee3829b1-0828-11e8-b0e8-005056b04871|title = Seahawks Legend Dave Krieg Raises 12 Flag at Space Needle}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.davekrieg.com/dave.html}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=dave-krieg |espn=6471 |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=K/KrieDa00 |rotoworld= }}

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{{NFL completion percentage leaders}}
{{NFL Quarterbacks with a Perfect Passer Rating}}
{{Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Krieg, Dave}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:Arizona Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Chicago Bears players]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions players]]
[[Category:Kansas City Chiefs players]]
[[Category:Milton Wildcats football players]]
[[Category:Seattle Seahawks players]]
[[Category:Tennessee Oilers players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:People from Iola, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Wisconsin]]