Craig Morton, Pioneering Quarterback for Cowboys and Broncos, Passes Away at 83
Craig Morton, the legendary quarterback who guided both the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos to their first Super Bowl appearances, passed away on Sunday at the age of 83, as reported by the Broncos' website. Morton, a respected member of the Broncos Ring of Fame, enjoyed the final six years of his 18-year career in Denver. In 1977, he notably led the Broncos to their inaugural Super Bowl, facing off against the Cowboys, a team he had previously directed to the Super Bowl seven years earlier. Key highlights from Morton's career include: 1965: Selected as the fifth overall pick in the NFL Draft. 1969: Took over as the Cowboys' starting quarterback, achieving a 10-2-1 record. 1970: Led the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl, a narrow 16-13 loss to the Colts. 1974: Traded to the New York Giants for first- and second-round draft picks. 1977: Revitalized his career with the Broncos, leading them to a 12-2 record and the Super Bowl. In an ironic twist, Morton became the only quarterback to compete against a team he had previously led to a Super Bowl, as the Broncos faced the Cowboys. Despite his efforts, Denver struggled against Dallas' formidable "Doomsday" defense, resulting in a 27-10 loss in the Super Bowl, where Randy White and Harvey Martin shared MVP honors. Morton continued to lead the Broncos to the playoffs in the subsequent two seasons, enjoying one of the best statistical seasons of his career at age 38 in 1981. He played one more season before the Broncos traded for future Hall of Famer John Elway, marking the end of an era.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-05-12