Craig Morton
The quarterback who led Denver to its first Super Bowl and won Comeback Player of the Year at age 34.
Craig Morton revived his career with the Denver Broncos at age 34, leading the team to its first Super Bowl appearance in 1977. He was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year and AFC Offensive Player of the Year that season, becoming the first quarterback to start the Super Bowl for two different franchises. Morton played his final six NFL seasons with the Broncos, setting franchise records for passing yards and sacks while wearing number 7. He retired just before John Elway's arrival in 1983, leaving as the third all-time passing yards leader in franchise history with 11,895 yards and a 50–28 regular-season record.
- Role
- Quarterback
- Primary Team
- Denver Broncos
- Status
- Legend / Retired
- Key Achievement
- Super Bowl XII Appearance (1977)
- Franchise Record Holder
- Third all-time passing yards leader in franchise history with 11,895
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Morton's 1977 season with the Broncos was a remarkable revival. At 34, he finished as the second-rated passer in the AFC, earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year and All-AFC honors from the Sporting News. Despite a swollen left hip that needed draining during the playoffs, he led Denver to Super Bowl XII against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys. He threw a franchise playoff record four interceptions in that loss and was pulled for Norris Weese. Morton is the only quarterback to start for two different teams' inaugural Super Bowl appearances — Dallas in Super Bowl V and Denver in Super Bowl XII.
In Their Own Story
The 1981 season saw Morton's best statistical year in his penultimate 17th season. He threw for 3,195 yards and 21 touchdowns with a 90.5 passer rating. His 8.5 yards per attempt that season remains a Broncos franchise record. He also set a team record with 54 sacks in 1981, a mark that stood for 41 years. In two games that season, he was sacked seven times each — a feat later matched by John Elway and Tim Tebow. Morton briefly held the record for the most consecutive passes completed and remains among the highest amounts of sacks suffered by any quarterback past age 35 in NFL history.
Reader's Guide
Morton wore number 7 for the Broncos and retired just before the arrival of rookie John Elway in 1983, who wore the same number and in whose honor it was retired. Morton remains the third all-time passing yards leader in franchise history with 11,895 yards. His regular-season record with Denver was 50 wins and 28 losses over five seasons. He was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Denver Broncos' Ring of Fame in 1988. After his playing career, Morton served as head coach for the Denver Gold of the USFL and co-authored a book with a Denver Post writer in 2008.
Did You Know?
- Morton was the first quarterback to start the Super Bowl for two different franchises (Dallas in V, Denver in XII).
- He is the only quarterback to start for two different teams' inaugural Super Bowl appearances.
- His 8.5 yards per attempt in 1981 remains a Broncos franchise record.
- Morton was sacked 54 times in 1981, a team record that stood for 41 years.
- He wore number 7 for the Broncos, the same number later retired in honor of John Elway.
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