(NFL) Craig Morton, RIP

[ChuckyTheGoat]

https://www.npr.org/2026/05/12/g-s1-121585/craig-morton-quarterback-dies?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

A few noteworthy items on his NFL bio:
*SB 5: Cowboys had been rotating Morton and Staubach. QB play was choppy, and they lost to BALT.
*SB 6: Landry picked Staubach over Morton. QB improved. Cowboys beat MIA.
*SB 12: Morton and Staubach cross paths again. Cowboys beat Orange Crush, 27-10. Robert Newhouse toss-pass to Golden Richards. And Staubach hits Butch Johnson on the fly-route, Butch makes a PERFECT finger-tip catch.

RIP, Craig.

[Otters27]

I remember opening his card in a pack of 81 Topps football.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Good one, Ott:

[Mac4Lyfe]

I use to play electric football with friends in my basement. My 2 best players were Harvey Martin and Craig Morton. Morton was tough as nails…. RIP


During the week leading up to the 1977 AFC Championship Game, Morton sustained a severe hip pointer injury that resulted in painful bleeding and fluid buildup in his leg. Doctors repeatedly drained his hip to relieve the pressure, leaving his leg grotesquely discolored. Despite the injury and hospitalization, he started the game, throwing two touchdown passes to Haven Moses to lead the Broncos to a 20-17 victory over the Raiders and their first Super Bowl appearance.

Morton's legendary toughness and grit during that playoff run are foundational to Denver Broncos history, earning him NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

I use to play electric football with friends in my basement. My 2 best players were Harvey Martin and Craig Morton. Morton was tough as nails…. RIP


During the week leading up to the 1977 AFC Championship Game, Morton sustained a severe hip pointer injury that resulted in painful bleeding and fluid buildup in his leg. Doctors repeatedly drained his hip to relieve the pressure, leaving his leg grotesquely discolored. Despite the injury and hospitalization, he started the game, throwing two touchdown passes to Haven Moses to lead the Broncos to a 20-17 victory over the Raiders and their first Super Bowl appearance.

Morton's legendary toughness and grit during that playoff run are foundational to Denver Broncos history, earning him NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors.

Mac, that's a great Morton story. I wonder if he was inhibited after beating the Raiders. DEN offense struggled vs DAL...and Morton was lifted for the more mobile Norris Weese.

[Mac4Lyfe]

Mac, that's a great Morton story. I wonder if he was inhibited after beating the Raiders. DEN offense struggled vs DAL...and Morton was lifted for the more mobile Norris Weese.

Yeah, unfortunately he was extremely limited in movement. The Cowboys knew it and purposely rushed to force him to move out of the pocket but he couldn’t. I think he was sacked three times, hurried a bunch of times, hit after the echo of the whistle and threw 4 interceptions. He was once asked what did he remember about that Super Bowl played in the Superdome. He said… “The Ceiling.”

[stevenash]

"I wish I had Dandy Don Meridith or Roger Staubach to throw the ball around with me when I was a kid, hell, I would even have settled for Craig Morton."

-Hank Hill
'King Of the Hill'

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Yeah, unfortunately he was extremely limited in movement. The Cowboys knew it and purposely rushed to force him to move out of the pocket but he couldn’t. I think he was sacked three times, hurried a bunch of times, hit after the echo of the whistle and threw 4 interceptions. He was once asked what did he remember about that Super Bowl played in the Superdome. He said… “The Ceiling.”

Good one, Mac. Yes, the SB in 1977 was one of the sloppiest bowls. And it was in a dome, so it wasn't the weather.