Craig Morton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Craig Morton | |
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| Position(s): Quarterback |
Jersey #(s): 7, 14, 15 |
| Born: February 5, 1943 Flint, Michigan |
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| Career Information | |
| Year(s): 1965–1982 | |
| NFL Draft: 1965 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5 | |
| College: California | |
| Professional Teams | |
| Career Stats | |
| TD-INT | 183-187 |
| Yards | 27,908 |
| QB Rating | 73.5 |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
| Career Highlights and Awards | |
| College Football Hall of Fame | |
Larry Craig Morton (born February 5, 1943 in Flint, Michigan) was an American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and the Denver Broncos. Morton played college football at University of California, Berkeley.
Morton is the only quarterback in NFL history to lead two different teams to the Super Bowl (Dallas in 1970 and Denver in 1977).[citation needed] He would later serve as head coach of the USFL's Denver Gold.
Morton was a downfield passer not known for his mobility, and is one of the all time leaders in yards per completion. He also briefly held the record for the most passes completed in a row.
Morton's best statistical season came in his 17th season (1981) when he threw for over 3,000 yards and 20 Touchdowns, compiling an excellent 90.5 Passer Rating. Craig was selected All-AFC after the 1977 season by The Sporting News.
Morton was an All-American his Senior season (1964) at Cal and selected by Dallas in the first round of the 1965 NFL Draft. He was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992. Morton is a notable graduate of Campbell High School.
Morton is currently a voter in the Harris Interactive College Poll, a component of college football's Bowl Championship Series. He was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1988.
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[edit] Facts
- Although Roger Staubach replaced an ineffective Morton for the Dallas Cowboys in 1971 and would go on to great success (and eventually the Pro Football Hall of Fame), Morton actually played seven years longer than Staubach. Staubach didn't start playing for the Cowboys until 1969 (four years after Morton started playing in the NFL) due to a prior agreement to serve in the United States Navy after his Navy playing eligibility expired. Staubach then retired after the 1979 season, while Morton would play three more years in the NFL.
- Morton wore number 7 for the Broncos, and retired just before the arrival of future Hall of Famer John Elway, who, of course, wore the same number and has had it since retired in his honor. Both players, however, are honored in the Broncos Ring of Fame with number 7 next to both player's names.
[edit] Career statistics
[edit] Regular season
| Year | Team | Passing | Rushing | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Comp | Yds | TD | Int | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 1965 | DAL | 34 | 17 | 173 | 2 | 4 | 3 | -8 | -2.67 | 0 |
| 1966 | DAL | 27 | 13 | 225 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 50 | 7.14 | 0 |
| 1967 | DAL | 137 | 69 | 978 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 42 | 2.8 | 0 |
| 1968 | DAL | 85 | 44 | 752 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 28 | 7 | 2 |
| 1969 | DAL | 302 | 162 | 2619 | 21 | 15 | 16 | 62 | 3.88 | 1 |
| 1970 | DAL | 207 | 102 | 1819 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 37 | 2.31 | 0 |
| 1971 | DAL | 143 | 78 | 1131 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 2.25 | 1 |
| 1972 | DAL | 339 | 185 | 2396 | 15 | 21 | 8 | 26 | 3.25 | 2 |
| 1973 | DAL | 32 | 13 | 174 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | DAL | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | NYG | 237 | 122 | 1510 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 1.25 | 0 |
| 1975 | NYG | 363 | 186 | 2359 | 11 | 16 | 22 | 72 | 3.27 | 0 |
| 1976 | NYG | 284 | 153 | 1865 | 9 | 20 | 15 | 48 | 3.2 | 0 |
| 1977 | DEN | 254 | 131 | 1929 | 14 | 8 | 31 | 125 | 4.03 | 4 |
| 1978 | DEN | 267 | 146 | 1802 | 11 | 8 | 17 | 71 | 4.18 | 0 |
| 1979 | DEN | 370 | 204 | 2626 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 13 | 0.57 | 1 |
| 1980 | DEN | 301 | 183 | 2150 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 29 | 1.38 | 1 |
| 1981 | DEN | 376 | 225 | 3195 | 21 | 14 | 8 | 18 | 2.25 | 0 |
| 1982 | DEN | 26 | 18 | 193 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 3786 | 2053 | 27908 | 183 | 187 | 215 | 627 | 2.92 | 12 | |
[edit] Playoffs
| Year | Team | Opp | Result | Comp | Att | Yds | TD | Int | Rusing Att | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Dallas | Cleveland | L,14-38 | 24 | 8 | 95 | 0 | 2 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1970 | Dallas | Detroit | W,5-0 | 18 | 4 | 38 | 0 | 1 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1970 | Dallas | San Francisco | W,17-10 | 22 | 7 | 101 | 1 | 0 | -- | -- | -- |
| *1970 | Dallas | Baltimore | L,13-16 | 12 | 26 | 127 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1972 | Dallas | San Francisco | W,30-28 | 8 | 21 | 96 | 1 | 2 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1972 | Dallas | Washington | L,3-26 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1977 | Denver | Pittsburgh | W,34-21 | 11 | 23 | 164 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | Denver | Oakland | W,20-17 | 10 | 20 | 224 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 0 |
| *1977 | Denver | Dallas | L,10-27 | 4 | 15 | 39 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | Denver | Pittsburgh | L,10-33 | 3 | 5 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | Denver | Houston | L,7-13 | 14 | 27 | 144 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Preceded by Don Meredith |
Dallas Cowboys Starting Quarterbacks 1969-1970 |
Succeeded by Roger Staubach |
| Preceded by Norm Snead |
New York Giants Starting Quarterbacks 1974-76 |
Succeeded by Joe Pisarcik |
| Preceded by Steve Ramsey |
Denver Broncos Starting Quarterbacks 1977-1982 |
Succeeded by Steve DeBerg |
| Preceded by Greg Landry |
NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award 1977 |
Succeeded by John Riggins |
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