Craig Morton, a pioneering quarterback whose 18-year NFL career included a historic first, has passed away at the age of 83. Morton died Saturday in Mill Valley, California, the Denver Broncos confirmed through his family.
Morton made NFL history as the first quarterback to start the Super Bowl for two different franchises—the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos. He remains one of only four quarterbacks to achieve this rare feat, joining legends Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Kurt Warner. While the other three all won at least one Super Bowl as a starter, Morton's championship ring came as a backup.
His first Super Bowl start came in Super Bowl V at the end of the 1970 season, a turnover-filled 16-13 loss for the Cowboys against the Baltimore Colts. Morton threw the first touchdown pass in Super Bowl history for the Cowboys in that game.
Seven years later, after a challenging stint with the New York Giants, Morton led the Broncos to a Super Bowl matchup against his former team. It was a tough day for the veteran—he threw for just 39 yards and four interceptions before being pulled in a 27-10 loss. That game marked the first of four consecutive Super Bowl defeats for the Broncos.
Known for his powerful arm, Morton was a college football Hall of Famer at California, where he played for coach Marv Levy and assistant Bill Walsh. The Cowboys selected him fifth overall in the 1965 NFL draft, while the Oakland Raiders also picked him in the 10th round of the AFL draft.
In Dallas, Morton joined a team coached by Tom Landry and featuring veteran quarterback Don Meredith. He played sparingly as a rookie before splitting time with rising star Roger Staubach in 1970-71, the year the Cowboys made their first Super Bowl appearance. The following season, the two quarterbacks alternated so frequently that they sometimes changed on every play. Ultimately, Staubach took over the starting job and led the Cowboys to a Super Bowl victory over Miami, earning MVP honors. That success signaled the end of Morton's time in Dallas.
The Cowboys traded Morton to the Giants in 1974 for a package that included a draft pick used to select defensive lineman Randy White, who would go on to become a Hall of Famer. Morton's legacy as a trailblazer for quarterbacks who have worn multiple uniforms in the biggest game remains unmatched.