Week 1 Preview: Get to Know the Seattle Dragons
February 3, 2020 - XFL (XFL)
D.C. Defenders News Release
On Saturday (Feb. 8), the DC Defenders will make history with the first XFL game in Washington, D.C. and the very first game of the 2020 XFL season.
The Defenders will take to Audi Field at 2 p.m. ET to host the Seattle Dragons in the first XFL game in over a decade. The game will be broadcast live on ABC.
Although there's over 2,000 miles that separate the Defenders and the Dragons, there are several familiar faces that should help to ignite a new rivalry.
Get to know the Defenders Week 1 opponents: The Seattle Dragons
KNOW YOUR OPPONENTS: SEATTLE DRAGONS
Home Field: CenturyLink Field (72,000)
Team Colors: Navy, green, orange, white
Team President: Ryan Gustafson
Head Coach: Jim Zorn
Making the 2020 XFL season-opener in Washington, D.C. just a bit more interesting is the presence of Jim Zorn, the Seattle Dragons head coach. The longtime quarterbacks coach spent two seasons as the head coach of the Washington Redskins tasked with replacing legendary Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs, who retired for the second time at the end of the 2007 season. The Redskins failed to make the playoffs in both seasons with Zorn at the helm, finishing 8-8 in 2008 and 4-12 in 2009.
While his ties to Washington, D.C. are well known, his bond with the northwest is the stronger. A former Seattle Seahawks quarterback who earned second team All-Pro honors in 1978, Zorn served as a coach for the Seahawks on two occasions. He got his first NFL job as an offensive assistant in 1997, the returned as the quarterbacks coach in 2001. He would remain with the Seahawks until taking the Redskins head coaching job in 2007.
Click here to view official Seattle Dragons roster
PLAYERS YOU MAY KNOW: SEATTLE DRAGONS
#7 B.J. Daniels, QB. South Florida: USF's all-time leader in rushing and passing. Selected No. 237 by San Francisco 49ers in 2013 NFL Draft. A member of the Super Bowl XLVIII champion Seattle Seahawks roster.
#13 Austin Proehl, WR, North Carolina: Son of former NFL wide receiver and Super Bowl champion Ricky Proehl.
#19 Keenan Reynolds, WR. Navy: Set the NCAA record for rushing touchdowns in a career (88) and most rushing yards by a quarterback (4,559). Finished fifth in voting for the 2015 Heisman Trophy. Number retired at Naval Academy. Played for both the Ravens and Redskins.
#21 Mohammed Seisay, CB. Nebraska: From Springfield, Va. Went to Springfield West HS.
#23 Trey Williams, RB. Texas A&M: Signed as UDFA with Redskins following 2015 NFL draft.
#33 Jordan Martin, S. Syracuse: From Upper Marlboro, Md. Went to Bishop McNamara.
#68 Cyril Richardson, OG. Baylor: Served as blindside blocker for Robert Griffin III in college. Member of 2013 NCAA All-America team. Two-time Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year.
#76 Michael Dunn, OT. Maryland: From Bethesda, Md. Went to Walt Whitman HS. Was a member of Maryland Terrapins team with Defenders Derrick Hayward for three seasons.
#79 Isaiah Battle, OT. Clemson: Went to Blue Ridge School in Virginia.
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