Craig Morton, the quarterback who led the Broncos to their first playoff appearance and their first trip to the Super Bowl, died May 9 at age 83. His family confirmed his death, saying he passed away surrounded by loved ones in Mill Valley, California.
Morton’s place in Denver history was secured in a single season that changed the franchise. In 1977, the Broncos went 12-2 under him, won home playoff games against the Steelers and Cowboys, and reached Super Bowl XII. Morton also played through a hip injury in the AFC Championship Game win and spent days in the hospital before the matchup against the rival Raiders, then came out of that season with a haul of honors that included AFC Offensive Player of the Year, Sporting News Player of the Year, PFWA Comeback Player of the Year and NFL UPI MVP. Haven Moses said at the time, “Craig Morton is unbelievable,” and added, “To me he's the most valuable player in the National Football League this year.”
That breakout season came after Morton joined Denver from the Giants and after years with Dallas, where he played from 1965 to 1974, throwing for more than 80 touchdowns and more than 10,000 yards. The fifth-overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft, he starred at California, also played baseball there and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992. His Broncos run lasted six seasons, from 1977 to 1982, and included a pair of division titles and three playoff berths. He finished with franchise records of 11,895 passing yards, 74 passing touchdowns, 1,594 pass attempts and 907 completions, while his 41 regular-season wins remain the third most in team history.
Morton’s career totals reached 183 touchdowns, 27,908 yards and 81 regular-season wins, numbers that show how long he lasted and how high he rose. He was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Broncos Ring of Fame in 1988, honors that matched the role he played in Denver’s rise from also-ran to contender. He is survived by his wife, Kym, his sister, his children and his grandchildren.
