Craig Morton, a legendary quarterback whose career spanned two iconic NFL franchises and culminated in leading the Denver Broncos to their historic first Super Bowl appearance, has passed away at the age of 83. Morton died on Saturday, surrounded by his family in Mill Valley, California, as confirmed by the Denver Broncos organization.<\/p>\n
The news of Morton\u2019s death was shared by the Broncos, who expressed their sadness on social media. \u201cWe are saddened to learn of the passing of #BroncosROF quarterback Craig Morton, who died on Saturday at the age of 83,\u201d the team stated, honoring his status as a Ring of Famer.<\/p>\n
Morton\u2019s tenure with the Denver Broncos, from 1977 to 1982, is etched in the team\u2019s history. During the 1977 season, he captained the Broncos to their first-ever playoff appearance and a coveted spot in Super Bowl XII, a landmark achievement for the franchise. This remarkable season saw Morton earn significant accolades, including being named AFC\u2019s Offensive Player of the Year and the NFL UPI MVP. His impact was so profound that, according to The New York Times, teammate Haven Moses referred to him as \u201cthe most valuable player in the National Football League\u201d the following year.<\/p>\n
Beyond his MVP season, Morton was also recognized as the Comeback Player of the Year in 1977, a testament to his enduring skill and determination. His leadership on the field was instrumental in transforming the Broncos into a competitive force. After retiring from the NFL following the 1982 season, Morton\u2019s contributions were further immortalized when he was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1988, joining fellow legends Haven Moses and Jim Turner.<\/p>\n
Morton\u2019s NFL journey began with the Dallas Cowboys, who drafted him in 1965. He spent an impressive nine seasons with the Cowboys, where he established a strong winning record of 32-14-1. During his time in Dallas, he was a key player for a team that achieved significant success, including a Super Bowl VI victory. His early career laid the foundation for a reputation as a capable and reliable quarterback.<\/p>\n
In 1974, Morton made a move to the New York Giants, a direct rival of the Cowboys. However, his time with the Giants was less successful, marked by a challenging start with a 1-6 record in his initial season. After three seasons with the Giants, Morton was traded to the Denver Broncos. This move proved to be a career revitalization, allowing him to recapture his elite form and lead a team to unprecedented heights.<\/p>\n
Craig Morton\u2019s impact extended far beyond his statistics and game-winning drives. He was a figure of inspiration, particularly for his ability to overcome challenges and perform at the highest level. His leadership in Denver not only brought the Broncos their first Super Bowl appearance but also ignited a passion and loyalty among their fanbase that continues to this day.<\/p>\n
Morton\u2019s career highlights include:<\/p>\n
Morton is survived by his wife, Kym; his sister; his children; and his grandchildren. His passing marks the end of an era for Broncos Country and the NFL, leaving behind a legacy of grit, determination, and unforgettable moments on the gridiron.<\/p>\n
Craig Morton was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1965.<\/p>\n
His most significant achievement was leading the Denver Broncos to their first Super Bowl appearance in the 1977 season.<\/p>\n
Craig Morton was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1988.<\/p>\n
In 1977, Craig Morton was named AFC\u2019s Offensive Player of the Year, the NFL UPI MVP, and Comeback Player of the Year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Craig Morton, a legendary quarterback whose career spanned two iconic NFL franchises and culminated in leading the Denver Broncos to their historic first Super Bowl appearance, has passed away at the age of 83. Morton died on Saturday, surrounded by his family in Mill Valley, California, as…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1936,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13581\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}