KNOW YOUR 1980s DENVER BRONCOS
This week, #7…no, not that #7. Craig Morton, of course.
Craig Morton readies to pass while a 1980s San Diego Charger bears down.
Remaining editions of KY1980sDBs: 1.
A highly-touted prospect out of Cal, Craig was drafted in the 1st round (5th overall) by the Dallas Cowboys in 1965. (He was also drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the AFL, but, like, who cares? I guess the Raiders hoped he might have trouble signing with Dallas or not want to be a backup and they’d have rights to him if he turned to the AFL.) He went on to play for 18 years in the NFL. Initially backing up Don Meredith, Craig was anointed the team’s starter for the 1969 season. Later, after losing the starting role to Roger Staubach, Craig spent time with the New York Giants before coming to the Broncos in 1977. That year, his performance earned him the AP Comeback Player of the Year award, given to players who have a great year after being down with injuries, or in Craig’s case, being not so good. He spent his last six years in Denver, through the strike-shortened 1982 season. A strong-armed downfield passer, Craig led the league in yards per attempt three times, once with the Broncos. He is the Broncos’ best all-time in that category, among regular starting quarterbacks. He threw for 11,895 yards and 74 touchdowns with the team, retiring as the team’s all-time leader, and still good for second place in both categories. Craig was enshrined in the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 1988 and elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
He played in Super Bowl V for the Cowboys, enduring a close loss to the Baltimore Colts, 16-13. He later led the Broncos to Super Bowl XII, in which the Broncos were pummeled by Roger Staubach’s Dallas Cowboys 27-10. Craig had an infamously terrible day, getting hounded by the Cowboys’ defense, throwing four interceptions, and getting benched in favor of Norris Weese. However, Craig long held the distinction of being the only quarterback in NFL history to have led two different teams to the Super Bowl (a feat later equaled by Kurt Warner).
So what makes Craig Morton so awesome? He is the oldest Denver Bronco ever, having suited up for his last game with the team in 1982 at age 39 years, 289 days, about a year older than any other player in team history, and more than 3 years older than the next oldest 1980s Denver Bronco, Paul Howard.
These days, Craig works as the Cal athletic department’s Major Gifts Officer, where, according to this article, it is his job to ask for money. He is also an active voter in the Harris Interactive College Poll, which determines college football’s BCS rankings. He also recently co-authored a book, Then Morton Said to Elway… The Best Denver Broncos Stories Ever Told, which I suppose would be good reading if you are the kind of person who will miss Know Your 1980s Denver Broncos.
