Broncos mourn passing of Ring of Fame QB Craig Morton
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos have misplaced a Ring of Famer.
Former quarterback Craig Morton, who led the Broncos to their first Super Bowl look, handed away on May 9, his household confirmed.
Morton, who spent six seasons with the Broncos from 1977-82, led Denver to its first playoff look and a berth in Super Bowl XII.
The Ring of Famer guided the Broncos to a 12-2 file that season and notched dwelling playoff wins towards the Steelers and Cowboys. For his efficiency throughout that 1977 season, Morton was named the AFC’s Offensive Player of the Year. He was additionally named the Sporting News Player of the Year, the PFWA Comeback Player of the Year and the NFL UPI MVP for the 1977 season.
“Craig Morton is unbelievable,” stated Ring of Famer Haven Moses following the Broncos’ first AFC Championship, according to a 1978 New York Times article. “To me he’s the most valuable player in the National Football League this year.”
In that AFC Championship Game win, Morton performed by a hip harm that led to him spending days within the hospital forward of the matchup towards the rival Raiders.
During his Broncos profession, Morton led the group to a pair of division titles and three playoff berths. He completed his profession with essentially the most passing yards (11,895), passing touchdowns (74), go makes an attempt (1,594) and completions (907) in franchise historical past.
His 41 regular-season wins stay the third most in franchise historical past.
Morton was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1988, alongside Moses and Jim Turner. He was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame two years earlier, in 1986.
Prior to his profession in Denver, he performed for the Cowboys from 1965-74. While with Dallas, he threw for extra 80 touchdowns and greater than 10,000 yards. Morton then joined the Giants earlier than the Broncos acquired the veteran quarterback in a commerce.
In his profession, Morton threw for 183 touchdowns and 27,908 yards whereas successful 81 regular-season video games.
The fifth-overall decide within the 1965 NFL Draft, Morton starred collegiately on the University of California, the place he additionally performed for the baseball group. Morton was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
Morton handed away surrounded by his family members in Mill Valley, California.
He is survived by his spouse, Kym; his sister; his youngsters; and his grandchildren.
