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Craig Morton

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Craig Morton

Larry Craig Morton (February 5, 1943 – May 9, 2026) was an American professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. He played college football for the California Golden Bears, earning the Pop Warner Trophy and first-team All-American honors in 1964. Morton was selected by the Cowboys fifth overall in the 1965 NFL draft, where he spent his first nine seasons and led the team to an appearance in Super Bowl V. After leaving the Cowboys due to a quarterback controversy with Roger Staubach, Morton was a member of the New York Giants for three seasons. He played his final six seasons with the Broncos, winning NFL Comeback Player of the Year and AFC Offensive Player of the Year in 1977 en route to a Super Bowl XII appearance. Morton was the first quarterback to start in the Super Bowl with more than one franchise, as well as the only quarterback to start for multiple franchises in their Super Bowl debut. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Infobox

Position
Quarterback
Born
(1943-02-05)February 5, 1943 Flint, Michigan, U .
Died
May 9, 2026(2026-05-09) (aged 83) Greenbrae, California, U .
Listed height
6 ft 4 in (1 m)
Listed weight
214 lb (97 kg)
High school
Campbell (Campbell, California)
College
California
NFL draft
1965: 1st round, 5th overall pick
AFL draft
1965: 10th round, 75th overall pick
Passing attempts
3,786
Passing completions
2,053
Completion percentage
54 %
TD–INT
183–187
Passing yards
27,908
Passer rating
73
Rushing touchdowns
12

Tables

· NFL career statistics › Regular season
GP
GP
Year
GP
Team
GS
Games
Comp
Games
Att
Passing
Yards
Passing
TD
Passing
Int
Passing
Rate
Passing
Att
Passing
Yds
Rushing
Avg
Rushing
TD
1965
1965
Year
1965
Team
DAL
Games
4
Games
1
Passing
17
Passing
34
Passing
173
Passing
2
Passing
4
Passing
45
Rushing
3
Rushing
−8
1966
1966
Year
1966
Team
DAL
Games
6
Games
0
Passing
13
Passing
27
Passing
225
Passing
3
Passing
1
Passing
98
Rushing
7
Rushing
50
1967
1967
Year
1967
Team
DAL
Games
9
Games
3
Passing
69
Passing
137
Passing
978
Passing
10
Passing
10
Passing
67
Rushing
15
Rushing
42
1968
1968
Year
1968
Team
DAL
Games
13
Games
1
Passing
44
Passing
85
Passing
752
Passing
4
Passing
6
Passing
68
Rushing
4
Rushing
28
1969
1969
Year
1969
Team
DAL
Games
13
Games
13
Passing
162
Passing
302
Passing
2,619
Passing
21
Passing
15
Passing
85
Rushing
16
Rushing
62
1970
1970
Year
1970
Team
DAL
Games
12
Games
11
Passing
102
Passing
207
Passing
1,819
Passing
15
Passing
7
Passing
89
Rushing
16
Rushing
37
1971
1971
Year
1971
Team
DAL
Games
10
Games
4
Passing
78
Passing
143
Passing
1,131
Passing
7
Passing
8
Passing
73
Rushing
4
Rushing
9
1972
1972
Year
1972
Team
DAL
Games
14
Games
14
Passing
185
Passing
339
Passing
2,396
Passing
15
Passing
21
Passing
65
Rushing
8
Rushing
26
1973
1973
Year
1973
Team
DAL
Games
14
Games
0
Passing
13
Passing
32
Passing
174
Passing
3
Passing
1
Passing
76
Rushing
1
Rushing
0
1974
1974
Year
1974
Team
DAL
Games
6
Games
0
Passing
2
Passing
2
Passing
12
Passing
0
Passing
0
Passing
91
Rushing
1
Rushing
0
NYG
NYG
Year
NYG
Team
8
Games
7
Games
122
Passing
237
Passing
1,510
Passing
9
Passing
13
Passing
61
Passing
4
Rushing
5
Rushing
1
1975
1975
Year
1975
Team
NYG
Games
14
Games
14
Passing
186
Passing
363
Passing
2,359
Passing
11
Passing
16
Passing
63
Rushing
22
Rushing
72
1976
1976
Year
1976
Team
NYG
Games
12
Games
12
Passing
153
Passing
284
Passing
1,865
Passing
9
Passing
20
Passing
55
Rushing
15
Rushing
48
1977
1977
Year
1977
Team
DEN
Games
14
Games
14
Passing
131
Passing
254
Passing
1,929
Passing
14
Passing
8
Passing
82
Rushing
31
Rushing
125
1978
1978
Year
1978
Team
DEN
Games
14
Games
13
Passing
146
Passing
267
Passing
1,802
Passing
11
Passing
8
Passing
77
Rushing
17
Rushing
71
1979
1979
Year
1979
Team
DEN
Games
14
Games
10
Passing
204
Passing
370
Passing
2,626
Passing
16
Passing
19
Passing
70
Rushing
23
Rushing
13
1980
1980
Year
1980
Team
DEN
Games
12
Games
9
Passing
183
Passing
301
Passing
2,150
Passing
12
Passing
13
Passing
77
Rushing
21
Rushing
29
1981
1981
Year
1981
Team
DEN
Games
15
Games
15
Passing
225
Passing
376
Passing
3,195
Passing
21
Passing
14
Passing
90
Rushing
8
Rushing
18
1982
1982
Year
1982
Team
DEN
Games
3
Games
3
Passing
18
Passing
26
Passing
193
Passing
0
Passing
3
Passing
51
Rushing
1
Rushing
0
Total
Total
Year
Total
Team
207
Games
144
Games
2,053
Passing
3,786
Passing
27,908
Passing
183
Passing
187
Passing
73
Passing
215
Rushing
627
Rushing
2
Year
Team
Games
Passing
Rushing
GP
GS
Comp
Att
Yards
TD
Int
Rate
Att
Yds
Avg
TD
1965
DAL
4
1
17
34
173
2
4
45
3
−8
1966
DAL
6
0
13
27
225
3
1
98
7
50
1967
DAL
9
3
69
137
978
10
10
67
15
42
1968
DAL
13
1
44
85
752
4
6
68
4
28
1969
DAL
13
13
162
302
2,619
21
15
85
16
62
1970
DAL
12
11
102
207
1,819
15
7
89
16
37
1971
DAL
10
4
78
143
1,131
7
8
73
4
9
1972
DAL
14
14
185
339
2,396
15
21
65
8
26
1973
DAL
14
0
13
32
174
3
1
76
1
0
1974
DAL
6
0
2
2
12
0
0
91
1
0
NYG
8
7
122
237
1,510
9
13
61
4
5
1
1975
NYG
14
14
186
363
2,359
11
16
63
22
72
1976
NYG
12
12
153
284
1,865
9
20
55
15
48
1977
DEN
14
14
131
254
1,929
14
8
82
31
125
1978
DEN
14
13
146
267
1,802
11
8
77
17
71
1979
DEN
14
10
204
370
2,626
16
19
70
23
13
1980
DEN
12
9
183
301
2,150
12
13
77
21
29
1981
DEN
15
15
225
376
3,195
21
14
90
8
18
1982
DEN
3
3
18
26
193
0
3
51
1
0
Total
207
144
2,053
3,786
27,908
183
187
73
215
627
2
· NFL career statistics › Postseason
GP
GP
Year
GP
Team
GS
Games
Record
Games
Comp
Passing
Att
Passing
Yards
Passing
TD
Passing
Int
Passing
Rate
Passing
Att
Rushing
Yds
Rushing
Avg
1967
1967
Year
1967
Team
DAL
Games
1
Games
0
Passing
–
Passing
1
Passing
3
Passing
13
Passing
0
Passing
1
Rushing
8
Rushing
0
1968
1968
Year
1968
Team
DAL
Games
1
Games
0
Passing
–
Passing
9
Passing
23
Passing
163
Passing
1
Passing
1
Rushing
60
Rushing
2
1969
1969
Year
1969
Team
DAL
Games
1
Games
1
Passing
0–1
Passing
8
Passing
24
Passing
92
Passing
0
Passing
2
Rushing
11
Rushing
4
1970
1970
Year
1970
Team
DAL
Games
3
Games
3
Passing
2–1
Passing
23
Passing
66
Passing
266
Passing
2
Passing
4
Rushing
32
Rushing
4
1972
1972
Year
1972
Team
DAL
Games
2
Games
1
Passing
1–0
Passing
8
Passing
21
Passing
96
Passing
1
Passing
2
Rushing
29
Rushing
1
1973
1973
Year
1973
Team
DAL
Games
2
Games
0
Passing
–
Passing
0
Passing
0
Passing
0
Passing
0
Passing
0
Rushing
0
Rushing
0
1977
1977
Year
1977
Team
DEN
Games
3
Games
3
Passing
2–1
Passing
25
Passing
58
Passing
427
Passing
4
Passing
5
Rushing
55
Rushing
7
1978
1978
Year
1978
Team
DEN
Games
1
Games
1
Passing
0–1
Passing
3
Passing
5
Passing
34
Passing
0
Passing
0
Rushing
80
Rushing
0
1979
1979
Year
1979
Team
DEN
Games
1
Games
1
Passing
0–1
Passing
14
Passing
27
Passing
144
Passing
1
Passing
1
Rushing
64
Rushing
2
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
15
Games
10
Games
5–5
Passing
91
Passing
227
Passing
1,235
Passing
9
Passing
16
Passing
42
Rushing
20
Rushing
28
Year
Team
Games
Passing
Rushing
GP
GS
Record
Comp
Att
Yards
TD
Int
Rate
Att
Yds
Avg
1967
DAL
1
0
–
1
3
13
0
1
8
0
1968
DAL
1
0
–
9
23
163
1
1
60
2
1969
DAL
1
1
0–1
8
24
92
0
2
11
4
1970
DAL
3
3
2–1
23
66
266
2
4
32
4
1972
DAL
2
1
1–0
8
21
96
1
2
29
1
1973
DAL
2
0
–
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1977
DEN
3
3
2–1
25
58
427
4
5
55
7
1978
DEN
1
1
0–1
3
5
34
0
0
80
0
1979
DEN
1
1
0–1
14
27
144
1
1
64
2
Career
15
10
5–5
91
227
1,235
9
16
42
20
28
· NFL career statistics › Super Bowl
Cmp
Cmp
Year
Cmp
SB
Att
Team
Pct
Opp.
Yds
Passing
Y/A
Passing
TD
Passing
Int
Passing
Rtg
Passing
Att
Passing
Yds
Passing
Y/A
Passing
TD
1970
1970
Year
1970
SB
V
Team
DAL
Opp.
BAL
Passing
12
Passing
26
Passing
46
Passing
127
Passing
4
Passing
1
Passing
3
Passing
34
1977
1977
Year
1977
SB
XII
Team
DEN
Opp.
DAL
Passing
4
Passing
15
Passing
26
Passing
39
Passing
2
Passing
0
Passing
4
Passing
0
Career
Career
Year
Career
SB
16
Team
41
Opp.
39
Passing
166
Passing
4
Passing
1
Passing
7
Passing
20
Passing
1
Passing
2
Passing
2
Year
SB
Team
Opp.
Passing
Rushing
Result
Cmp
Att
Pct
Yds
Y/A
TD
Int
Rtg
Att
Yds
Y/A
TD
1970
V
DAL
BAL
12
26
46
127
4
1
3
34
1977
XII
DEN
DAL
4
15
26
39
2
0
4
0
Career
16
41
39
166
4
1
7
20
1
2
2

References

  1. Chicago Tribune
    http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1964/11/25/page/35/article/huarte-wins-heisman-gridiron-trophy
  2. Heisman Trophy
    http://heisman.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=30&path=football
  3. Spartanburg Herald
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19691125&id=SkMsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PMwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7198,4879857
  4. The Milwaukee Journal
    https://web.archive.org/web/20151117034956/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19700220&id=LzkoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NSgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7147,4832024
  5. NFL
    http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-top-ten/09000d5d81113dc8/Top-Ten-QB-Controversies-Staubach-vs-Morton
  6. The Dispatch
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19720923&id=Y3kcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AVIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3660,1874320
  7. The Argus-Press
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19730712&id=yXciAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wKwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=872,1381429
  8. Eugene Register-Guard
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ucdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N-ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5154%2C5831703
  9. Victoria Advocate
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1wpaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aUsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6890%2C4029914
  10. Morning Record
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2512&dat=19741023&id=DjNIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TgANAAAAIBAJ&pg=2324,3272280
  11. Schenectady Gazette
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19770308&id=LzkwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jeAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=952,1866654
  12. Nashua Telegraph
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19771130&id=nX9jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3HkNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7200,6309936
  13. The Milwaukee Journal
    https://web.archive.org/web/20151117043834/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19780103&id=Vw0qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hCkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6836,1245250
  14. "Peyton Manning eyes Super Bowl title with 2nd team"
    http://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=10349185
  15. Pro-Football-Reference
    https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/pass_sacked_single_season.htm
  16. Ellensburg Daily Record
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19821216&id=zZZUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T48DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1484,7696071
  17. {{Cite web |https://www /2026/05/12/after-dying-at-age-83-iconic-broncos-quarterback-craig-morton-will-never-be-forgotte
    https://www.denvergazette.com/2026/05/12/after-dying-at-age-83-iconic-broncos-quarterback-craig-morton-will-never-be-forgotten/
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