Craig Morton, the first quarterback to start a Super Bowl with two different franchises, has passed away at 83.
Malcolm Emmons / USA Today
Former Denver Broncos quarterback Craig Morton, who led the team to its maiden Super Bowl appearance in 1977, died on Saturday at the age of 83.
The Broncos confirmed Morton’s passing in a post on X on Monday, without specifying a cause of death. The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants also paid tribute through their official social media channels.
Born in Flint, Michigan, Morton first gained national recognition as a standout quarterback for the University of California in the mid-1960s. He led the nation in pass attempts, completions, and passing yards in both 1963 and 1964, while also topping college football with 14 touchdown passes in 1964. By the time he graduated, he held nearly every passing record in Cal history, earned All-American honors in 1964, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
Morton entered the NFL after being selected fifth overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1965 draft. He spent four seasons as the backup and heir apparent to Don Meredith, stepping in occasionally as Meredith dealt with injuries that ultimately ended his career in 1968. When Meredith retired, Morton became the starter and had a promising start to 1969 before a separated shoulder slowed him down, requiring offseason surgery. The following year, still recovering, Morton teamed with legendary coach Tom Landry to guide the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl appearance. They lost Super Bowl V to the Baltimore Colts, 16-13, after a last-second field goal.
Throughout the 1971 season, Morton famously competed for starting duties with future Hall of Famer Roger Staubach. He ended the year as Dallas’ backup but earned his first championship ring when Staubach led the Cowboys to a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. After Staubach suffered a shoulder separation early in 1972, Morton resumed starting, but Staubach reclaimed the role upon his return. Subsequently, Dallas traded Morton to the New York Giants, where he played from 1973 to 1976 without matching his previous success.
A resurgence awaited. In 1977, the Denver Broncos, seeking new momentum, hired head coach Red Miller, boasted a formidable “Orange Crush” defense, and signed 34-year-old Morton as quarterback. The move became the highlight of Morton’s career. Denver finished 12–2 that season, setting an NFL record for regular-season wins and reaching the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Morton threw for 1,929 yards and 14 touchdowns, finishing second in MVP voting and winning Comeback Player of the Year. This culminated in the Broncos’ first Super Bowl appearance, making Morton the first quarterback to start a Super Bowl for two different teams.
Super Bowl XII pitted Morton and the Broncos against the Dallas Cowboys, the team that drafted him, and Staubach, who had beaten him out for the starting job five years earlier. The game ended in a 27-10 loss for Denver, with Morton throwing four interceptions under heavy pressure.
After retiring as a player, Morton remained connected to football, and the Broncos inducted him into their Ring of Fame in 1988. His legacy as a pioneer who bridged two iconic franchises endures.