Denver Broncos quarterback Craig Morton takes off on keeper play to pick up 6 yards against the Chargers in this Dec. 1977 file photo. (Photo by Kenn Bisio/The Denver Post)
Denver Broncos quarterback Craig Morton takes off on keeper play to pick up 6 yards against the Chargers in this Dec. 1977 file photo. (Photo by Kenn Bisio/The Denver Post)
Craig Morton, a former Campbell High and Cal standout, died Saturday at his home in Mill Valley at the age of 83.
Morton’s family confirmed his death through the Denver Broncos organization, which announced the news on Monday.
Morton was born in February 1943 in Michigan, but graduated from the since-closed Campbell High School before going to Cal. He started for three seasons and won the Pop Warner Award as the nation’s top senior, setting Pac-8 records in passing yards (2,121), attempts (308) and completions (185) in his All-American final year in Berkeley, even as the Bears struggled to a 3-7 record.
He also played baseball for Cal before being selected No. 5 overall by Dallas in the 1965 NFL Draft, five years before the AFL and NFL merged.
Morton was the first quarterback to lead two different teams to the Super Bowl, taking the Cowboys there in 1970 before later leading the Broncos to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance in 1977.
That season, at the age of 34, Morton earned the league’s comeback player of the year award and sparked a six-season run with the Broncos.
Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway jokes with fellow Ring of Fame member Craig Morton as they pose with team greats for a group picture during the unveiling of the bust of Pat Bowlen in front of Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway jokes with fellow Ring of Fame member Craig Morton as they pose with team greats for a group picture during the unveiling of the bust of Pat Bowlen in front of Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Early in his pro career, Morton started for Dallas over Roger Staubach before Staubach eventually took over the job for good after leading a Cowboys comeback to beat the 49ers in a playoff game after the 1972 season. He was traded to the New York Giants in 1974, playing three seasons there before a trade to Denver that reignited his successful career.
He played in 207 career games over 18 seasons, including 72 games (64 starts) for the Broncos from 1977-82. Morton was 41-23 as a starter and threw for 11,895 yards for Denver.
Morton was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992, four years after being named to the Broncos Ring of Fame.
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