Craig Morton, the Super Bowl-winning quarterback, passed away on Saturday at the age of 83.
Morton had an impressive 18-season career in the NFL between 1965 and 1982, spending parts of three seasons with the Giants. However, he is most well-known for his notable tenures with the Cowboys and Broncos.
The Giants expressed their sorrow in a statement, saying, “We are saddened to hear of Craig’s passing. He was a great leader and teammate. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Morton began with the Cowboys, selected as the fifth overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft from the University of California. He initially served as a backup to Don Meredith before stepping into the starting quarterback role in 1969.
By 1971, Morton was sharing playing time with Cowboys great Roger Staubach. He started in Super Bowl V against the Colts and was part of the Dallas team that won Super Bowl VI.
In 1974, Morton was traded to the Giants, where he played 34 games, recording 5,734 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, though the team had an 8-25 win-loss record during his time there.
His career took a turn for the better with the Broncos, where he went 41-23 as a starter, amassing nearly 12,000 yards and 74 touchdowns. In the 1977 season, he guided the Broncos to their first playoff appearance and into the Super Bowl, though they lost to Dallas.
For his efforts that season, Morton was recognized as the Comeback Player of the Year.
After retiring from the NFL in 1982, he was inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Honor in 1988, his first year of eligibility. Four years later, he earned a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Morton’s professional career concluded with impressive stats: 2,053 passes for 27,908 yards, 183 touchdowns, and 187 interceptions.
