Craig Morton, longtime Cowboys and Broncos QB, dies at 83

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Longtime NFL quarterback Craig Morton, who led the Denver Broncos to their first Super Bowl appearance, died on Saturday. 

He was 83. 

Morton spent the end of his career with the Broncos, and he helped lead them to their first playoff appearance and Super Bowl berth during the 1977 season. The team went 12-2 that year in the regular season before losing to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XII. 

Morton spent 18 years in the league in total, first with the Cowboys after the franchise selected him with the No. 5 overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft. He spent a decade with the Cowboys before they dealt him to the New York Giants during the 1974 campaign. He was there for more than two years before landing with the Broncos for the 1977 campaign. 

Morton retired after the 1982 season. He finished with more than 27,900 passing yards with 183 touchdowns and 187 interceptions. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Cowboys during the 1971 season when he served as the team’s backup behind Roger Staubach. 

Morton earned Comeback Player of the Year honors during his Super Bowl run with the Broncos while throwing 1,929 yards with 14 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 1988, and is third on the team’s all-time passing yards list behind only John Elway and Peyton Manning.

“We are saddened to hear of Craig’s passing,” the Giants said in a statement. “He was a great leader and teammate. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Morton was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992. He played at Cal, and was also on the baseball team for the Golden Bears.