2023 Seattle Sea Dragons season

The 2023 Seattle Sea Dragons season was the second season for the Seattle Sea Dragons as a professional American football franchise. They played as charter members of the XFL, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the 2023 season. The Sea Dragons played their home games at the Lumen Field and were led by head coach Jim Haslett.[1][2]

2023 Seattle Sea Dragons season
OwnerAlpha Acquico, LLC
General managerJim Haslett
Head coachJim Haslett
Home fieldLumen Field
Results
Record7–3
Division place2nd XFL North
Playoff finishLost Division Finals (at DC Defenders) 21–37

The Sea Dragons had changed their franchise name from Seattle Dragons to Seattle Sea Dragons prior to the 2023 season.[2]

Earning their first playoff berth and clinching second place in the North Division, the Sea Dragons were eliminated by the DC Defenders in the North Division title game in the playoffs.[3]

On January 1, 2024, it was announced that the 2023 season was the last season for the Sea Dragons.[4]

Final Roster

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2023 Seattle Sea Dragons final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


51 active, 6 inactive

* Defensive end Chris Smith died on April 17, 2023, eight days after he played in an XFL game against the D.C. Defenders.[5][6]

Background

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The 2020 season was the inaugural season for the Seattle Dragons as a professional club. They were playing as charter members of the rebooted XFL, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the season. The Dragons played their home games at CenturyLink Field and were led by head coach Jim Zorn.

Their inaugural season was cut short after 5 weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the XFL suspended operations for the remainder of the season on March 20, 2020. The Dragons finished the season with a 1–4 record.

Schedule

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All times Pacific

Week Day Date Kickoff TV Opponent Results Location Attendance
Score Record
1 Sunday February 19 5:00 p.m. ESPN at DC Defenders 18–22 0–1 Audi Field 12,438
2 Thursday February 23 6:00 p.m. FX St. Louis BattleHawks 18–20 0–2 Lumen Field 10,386
3 Saturday March 4 4:00 p.m. FX at Vegas Vipers 30–26 1–2 Cashman Field 6,037
4 Saturday March 11 7:00 p.m. FX San Antonio Brahmas 15–6 2–2 Lumen Field 15,103
5 Thursday March 16 7:30 p.m. ESPN Houston Roughnecks 21–14 3–2 Lumen Field 9,231
6 Saturday March 25 10:00 a.m. ABC at Orlando Guardians 26–19 4–2 Camping World Stadium 7,832
7 Friday March 31 4:00 p.m. FX at Arlington Renegades 24–15 5–2 Choctaw Stadium 11,032
8 Sunday April 9 4:00 p.m. ESPN2 DC Defenders 33–34 5–3 Lumen Field 11,874
9 Sunday April 16 12:00 p.m. ESPN at St. Louis BattleHawks 30–12 6–3 The Dome at America's Center 33,142
10 Sunday April 23 4:00 p.m. ESPN2 Vegas Vipers 28–9 7–3 Lumen Field 15,046

[7]

Game summaries

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Week 1: at DC Defenders

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Week 1: Seattle Sea Dragons at DC Defenders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Sea Dragons 9 0 9018
Defenders 0 8 8622

at Audi Field, Washington, DC

  • Date: February 19
  • Game time: 5:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 12,438
  • Referee: Jeff Heaser
  • TV announcers (ESPN): John Schriffen, Tom Luginbill, and Stormy Buonantony
  • [1]
Game information

Week 2: vs. St. Louis BattleHawks

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Week 2: St. Louis BattleHawks at Seattle Sea Dragons – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
BattleHawks 0 8 3920
Sea Dragons 3 9 0618

at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: February 23
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 28 °F (−2 °C)
  • Game attendance: 10,386
  • Referee: Francisco Villar
  • TV announcers (FX): Lowell Galindo, Sam Acho, and Taylor McGregor
  • [2]
Game information

Week 3: at Vegas Vipers

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Week 3: Seattle Sea Dragons at Vegas Vipers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Sea Dragons 6 3 61530
Vipers 6 3 11626

at Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada

Game information

Week 4: vs. San Antonio Brahmas

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Week 4: San Antonio Brahmas at Seattle Sea Dragons – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Brahmas 3 3 006
Sea Dragons 0 6 3615

at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: March 11
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C)
  • Game attendance: 15,103
  • Referee: Chris Coyte
  • TV announcers (FX): Lowell Galindo, Sam Acho, and Taylor McGregor
  • [4]
Game information

Week 5: vs. Houston Roughnecks

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Week 5: Houston Roughnecks at Seattle Sea Dragons – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Roughnecks 0 0 01414
Sea Dragons 6 9 0621

at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: March 16
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C)
  • Game attendance: 9,231
  • Referee: Jason Autrey
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Lowell Galindo, Sam Acho, and Taylor McGregor
  • [5]
Game information

Week 6: at Orlando Guardians

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Week 6: Seattle Sea Dragons at Orlando Guardians – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Sea Dragons 3 6 8926
Guardians 0 10 6319

at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

Game information

Week 7: at Arlington Renegades

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Week 7: Seattle Sea Dragons at Arlington Renegades – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Sea Dragons 3 18 0324
Renegades 3 6 0615

at Choctaw Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Game information

Week 8: vs. DC Defenders

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Week 8: DC Defenders at Seattle Sea Dragons – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Defenders 8 8 61234
Sea Dragons 0 6 91833

at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: April 9
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C)
  • Game attendance: 11,874
  • Referee: Jason Autrey
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Roy Philpott, Eric Mac Lain, Tiffany Blackmon
  • [8]
Game information

Week 9: at St. Louis BattleHawks

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Week 9: Seattle Sea Dragons at St. Louis BattleHawks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Sea Dragons 8 6 61030
BattleHawks 3 6 3012

at The Dome at America's Center, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Date: April 16
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C)
  • Referee: Reggie Smith
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Barrie, Eric Mac Lain, and Tiffany Blackmon
  • [9]
Game information

Week 10: vs. Vegas Vipers

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Week 10: Vegas Vipers at Seattle Sea Dragons – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vipers 0 0 369
Sea Dragons 0 6 14828

at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

Game information

Standings

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North Division[8]
Team W L PCT GB TD+/- TD+ TD- DIV PF PA DIFF STK
(y) DC Defenders 9 1 .900 0 -2 33 35 6–0 298 240 58 W3
(x) Seattle Sea Dragons 7 3 .700 2 +10 30 20 3–3 243 177 66 W2
(e) St. Louis Battlehawks 7 3 .700 2 +9 32 23 3–3 249 202 47 W1
(e) Vegas Vipers 2 8 .200 7 0 28 28 0–6 184 252 -68 L3
South Division[8]
Team W L PCT GB TD+/- TD+ TD- DIV PF PA DIFF STK
(y) Houston Roughnecks 7 3 .700 0 +4 30 26 6–0 247 182 65 W3
(x) Arlington Renegades 4 6 .400 3 -8 15 23 3–3 146 194 -48 L2
(e) San Antonio Brahmas 3 7 .300 4 -8 16 24 3–3 169 183 -14 L1
(e) Orlando Guardians 1 9 .100 6 -5 32 37 0–6 204 310 -106 L3
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched division; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention


Postseason

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Schedule

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Week Day Date Kickoff TV Opponent Results Location Attendance
Score Record
Division Finals Sunday April 30 12:00 p.m. ESPN at DC Defenders 21–37 0–1 Audi Field 18,684

Game summaries

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XFL North Division Finals: at (1) DC Defenders

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XFL North Division Finals: (2) Seattle Sea Dragons at (1) DC Defenders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Sea Dragons 3 6 01221
Defenders 9 0 141437

at Audi Field, Washington, DC

Game information

Staff

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Seattle Sea Dragons staff
Front office
Head coach
Offensive coaches
 
Defensive coaches
Team operations

References

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  1. ^ "Seattle Sea Dragons: XFL unveils team names and logos". KCPQ. October 31, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Lantz, Shane (October 31, 2022). "Seattle's XFL team has a new name but familiar roots". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "Sea Dragons see season end in XFL North Division title game". The Seattle Times. April 30, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  4. ^ "Seattle Sea Dragons axed in XFL merger with USFL". KIRO-TV. January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  5. ^ "Chris Smith dies at 31: Former NFL player passes away just one week after playing in XFL game". CBS sports. 18 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Seattle Sea Dragons Defensive End Chris Smith Dead At 31-Years-Old". XFL news hub. 19 April 2023.
  7. ^ Hanson, Scott (January 5, 2023). "Check out Seattle Sea Dragons' 2023 XFL schedule". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "XFL Standings". XFL.com. February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.