Craig Morton, who quarterbacked the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos to Super Bowl berths within the Nineteen Seventies, died May 9. He was 83.
“We are saddened to learn of the passing of quarterback Craig Morton, who died on Saturday at the age of 83,” the crew introduced on X. “Morton quarterbacked the Broncos from 1977-82 and led the team to its first playoff appearance and Super Bowl berth (XII vs. Dallas) in the 1977 season.”
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A local of Flint, Michigan who moved to Northern California as a baby, Morton was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys within the first spherical (fifth general) of the 1965 NFL Draft out of Cal.
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Morton barely began throughout his first 4 seasons within the league. Then in 1969, he took over for Don Meredith because the Cowboys’ sign caller and went 10-2-1 as a starter. In 1970, Morton led the Cowboys to their first NFC title.
In his first championship recreation look as a starter in January 1971, Morton practically guided the Cowboys to victory in Super Bowl V. His landing move to Duane Thomas gave Dallas a 13-6 lead over the Baltimore Colts going into halftime. But the Colts scored 10 factors within the fourth quarter to drag out a 16-13 win.
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But after beginning all 14 video games in 1972, and shedding to Washington within the NFC Championship Game, Morton’s days in Dallas had been numbered. Roger Staubach took over within the pocket. Two years later Morton effectively forced a trade to the New York Giants by refusing to attend a follow.
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After going 8-25 for the Giants over the following two years, Morton was on the transfer once more. He guided the Broncos to a 12-2 file in 1977 and a berth in Super Bowl XII — coincidentally, in opposition to his former crew, the Cowboys.
This time Dallas prevailed, holding Morton to 4-of-15 passing for 39 yards and 4 interceptions. After the season, Morton was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
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Morton performed his closing six seasons in Denver. He retired after enjoying three video games in 1982.
According to the Broncos, Morton is survived by his spouse, Kym; his sister; his kids; and his grandchildren.