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Larry Craig Morton (born February 5, 1943 in Flint, Michigan) is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the National Football League for 18 seasons, 1965-82. Morton played for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and the Denver Broncos; he played college football at the University of California.

Morton was the first quarterback in NFL history to start the Super Bowl for two different teams (Dallas in 1970 and Denver in 1977), a feat that has only been equaled by Kurt Warner.^[1]

Following his playing career, Morton served as head coach of the USFL's Denver Gold.

Morton was a downfield passer not known for his mobility, and is one of the all time leaders in yards per completion. He also briefly held the record for the most passes completed in a row.

Morton's best statistical season came in his 17th season (1981) when he threw for over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns, compiling an excellent 90.5 passer rating. Craig was selected All-AFC after the 1977 season by The Sporting News.

In his senior season (1964), Morton was awarded the 1960 W.J. Voit Memorial Trophy as the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast and was an All-American at Cal. He was drafted by Dallas in the first round of the 1965 NFL Draft. He was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992. Morton is a notable graduate of Campbell High School in Campbell, California.

Morton is currently a voter in the Harris Interactive College Poll, a component of college football's Bowl Championship Series. He was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1988.

• Although Roger Staubach replaced Morton for the Dallas Cowboys in 1971 and would go on to great success, Morton played seven more NFL seasons than Staubach. The Cowboy teammates graduated college the same year, but Staubach began his NFL career four years later due to his active service in the U.S. Navy, and he chose to retire after the 1979 season, while Morton played for three more seasons.
• Morton wore number 7 for the Broncos, and retired just before the arrival of John Elway in 1983, who, of course, wore the same number and has had it since retired in his honor. Both players are honored in the Broncos Ring of Fame with number 7 next to both player's names.
• In 2008, Morton co-authored a book (with Denver Post writer Adrian Dater) entitled "Then Morton Said to Elway..." - The Best Denver Broncos Stories Ever Told. The book was published by Triumph Books.

Career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

References