The football world is mourning the loss of legendary NFL quarterback Craig Morton, who died Saturday at the age of 83.
Morton spent 18 seasons in the NFL between 1965 and 1982, building a career that included Super Bowl appearances, a championship ring, and an unforgettable comeback story that turned him into a Denver Broncos icon.
While younger fans may know him as one of the quarterbacks who helped shape the Broncos franchise, Morton also played for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants during his long NFL career.
Following news of his death, the Giants released a statement honoring the former quarterback.
“We are saddened to hear of Craig’s passing. He was a great leader and teammate. Our thoughts are with his family and friends,” the team said.
Morton entered the NFL after being selected fifth overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1965 NFL Draft out of Cal. Early in his career, he mostly backed up Cowboys quarterback Don Meredith before finally stepping into the starting role in 1969.
His time in Dallas eventually led to one of the most famous quarterback rivalries in Cowboys history when he began splitting playing time with Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach in 1971.
Morton started Super Bowl V against the Baltimore Colts and was also part of the Cowboys team that captured a victory in Super Bowl VI.
During the 1974 season, Morton was traded to the New York Giants, where he appeared in 34 games and threw for 5,734 yards and 29 touchdowns during a difficult stretch for the franchise.
But it was in Denver where Morton’s career experienced an incredible revival.
Over six seasons with the Broncos, Morton helped transform the struggling franchise into a contender, finishing with a 41-23 record as a starter while throwing for nearly 12,000 yards and 74 touchdowns.
In 1977, Morton led Denver to its first-ever playoff appearance and Super Bowl berth — a historic season that ended in a Super Bowl loss against his former team, the Cowboys.
That same season, Morton was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
After retiring following the 1982 season, Morton continued receiving recognition for his impact on the game. He was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Honor in 1988 during his first year of eligibility.
Four years later, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
By the end of his NFL career, Morton had completed 2,053 passes for 27,908 yards, 183 touchdowns, and 187 interceptions across nearly two decades in professional football.