Former NFL quarterback and football icon Craig Morton, best known for his time with the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys, has died at the age of 83.
Morton passed away on Saturday, May 9, surrounded by family and loved ones in Mill Valley, California, according to a statement released by the Broncos. No cause of death was immediately disclosed.
Born on February 5, 1943, in Flint, Michigan, Morton built a distinguished football career that spanned nearly two decades. He first rose to prominence while playing college football for the California Golden Bears football at the University of California, Berkeley.
Morton was selected by the Cowboys during the 1965 NFL Draft and became the team’s starting quarterback four years later. After spending nine seasons in Dallas, he joined the New York Giants for a three-season stint before finishing his career with six seasons at the Broncos.
The veteran quarterback made NFL history as the first starting quarterback to appear in the Super Bowl with more than one franchise. He played in the championship game with the Cowboys in 1971, before the team secured victory the following year, and later returned to the Super Bowl with the Broncos in 1978 — ironically losing to his former Dallas side.
Morton enjoyed a standout comeback season in 1977, earning both NFL Comeback Player of the Year and AFC Offensive Player of the Year honors.
He retired following the 1982 season, ending his career among the league’s top 20 all-time leaders in passing yards and touchdown passes.
In recognition of his impact at Denver, Morton was inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 1988, six years after his retirement. He was also honored in 1992 with induction into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame for his achievements with the Golden Bears.
Tributes have continued to pour in from Morton’s former teams. The Broncos said they were “saddened” by his passing, while the Cowboys extended prayers and condolences to his loved ones. The Giants remembered him as a “great leader and teammate.”
Former National Football Foundation chairman Archie Manning once praised Morton’s legacy, saying he embodied “excellence on the field, leadership under pressure, and a lifelong commitment to the game.”
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