Craig Morton, who became the first quarterback to start Super Bowl for two franchises, dies at 83 – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Mill Valley, California – Craig Morton, the quarterback who became the first to start the Super Bowl for two franchises, died Saturday at age 83. The Denver Broncos confirmed the news through his family. Over 18 seasons in the NFL, Morton carved out a distinctive path that included two Super Bowl appearances as a starter and a lasting mark on two franchises.
College Standout and Early NFL Years
Morton built his reputation at the University of California, where he earned College Football Hall of Fame honors under coach Marv Levy and assistant Bill Walsh. The Cowboys selected him fifth overall in the 1965 NFL draft, while the Oakland Raiders took him in the 10th round of the AFL draft. He joined a Dallas team led by Tom Landry that already featured veteran quarterback Don Meredith. Morton saw limited action in his first seasons and later shared the field with Roger Staubach. The two alternated plays at times during the early 1970s, yet Staubach ultimately secured the starting role and led the Cowboys to a Super Bowl victory. Dallas traded Morton to the New York Giants in 1974 in a deal that brought the team a draft pick used to select defensive lineman Randy White.
Revival With the Broncos and Super Bowl Runs
Morton struggled in New York before the Broncos acquired him before the 1977 season. He joined a team under new coach Red Miller that featured a dominant defense known as the Orange Crush. Morton guided Denver to a 12-2 record and playoff wins over the Steelers and Raiders, though he spent part of the week in the hospital with a hip injury before the victory against Oakland. In Super Bowl XII against his former Cowboys teammates, Morton completed just 4 of 15 passes for 39 yards and threw four interceptions before being replaced. Four years later, under coach Dan Reeves, Morton posted career highs of 3,195 passing yards and 21 touchdowns in 1981. He started three games in the strike-shortened 1982 season before retiring.
Statistical Record and Lasting Recognition
Morton finished his career with 27,908 passing yards, 183 touchdowns and 187 interceptions. At the time of his retirement, those totals placed him among the top 20 all-time in both yards and touchdown passes. He earned induction into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 1988 alongside teammates Haven Moses and Jim Turner from the 1977 squad. Morton remains one of only four quarterbacks to start the Super Bowl for two different teams. The others – Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Kurt Warner – each secured at least one victory in those games, while Morton’s lone championship ring came as a backup. His strong arm and resilience across multiple teams defined a career that bridged the AFL-NFL merger era and helped establish the Broncos as a national contender.
