Super Bowl VI champion and former quarterback Craig Morton has died at 83. Broncos confirmed the passing, while the Giants paid tribute.
A Super Bowl-winning quarterback has passed away at 83, and the NFL community is marking the loss of Craig Morton.. The Denver Broncos announced Monday that Morton has died. bringing an end to a career that spanned college stardom. nearly two decades in the pros. and a memorable place in franchise history.
Morton built his early reputation at the University of California, where he enjoyed a Hall of Fame college football career with the Golden Bears. He also played baseball for Cal, a detail that underscores the multi-sport talent that shaped his rise before he entered the NFL.
Selected with the fifth overall pick in the 1965 draft. Morton began his professional journey after making an immediate impression as a prospect.. Over the course of his pro career. he played for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants before finishing his playing days with the Denver Broncos. the team that later confirmed his death.
His legacy includes championship success in Dallas. Morton was part of the Cowboys team that won Super Bowl VI, a run that remains one of the most defining achievements of his time in the league.
The Broncos’ statement highlighted his later impact in Denver. Morton was traded to the team in 1977, and over the following six-plus seasons he helped guide the franchise to its first playoff appearance and secured a spot in Super Bowl XII.
By the time he left Denver in 1982, Morton had established multiple franchise benchmarks.. The report stated he held records including the most passing yards (11. 895) and passing touchdowns (74). figures that reflected both his longevity and his influence on the Broncos’ passing identity during that era.
Morton’s recognition extended beyond the regular season and into his enduring standing in football history.. The report said he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992. soon after he entered the Broncos Ring of Fame and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. cementing his status in both pro and college circles.
The Giants also issued a statement following the announcement of his death. In the message, the team described Morton as a great leader and teammate, and shared condolences for his family and friends.
Morton died Saturday in California while surrounded by loved ones, according to the Broncos’ announcement. He is survived by his wife Kym, along with his sister, his children, and grandchildren.
For the Broncos, Morton’s death closes a chapter tied to a specific turning point: the period in which the franchise moved from aspiration to postseason participation. His role in that progress is now part of the team’s remembered history, including the run that culminated in Super Bowl XII.
His career also stands as a reminder of how the NFL era can be shaped by quarterbacks who deliver not just individual highlights. but structural momentum.. From the Cowboys’ Super Bowl VI triumph to Denver’s first playoff appearance and later championship stage. Morton’s trajectory shows how one player’s presence can align with major milestones for multiple franchises.
With his passing, attention now falls on the personal side of the public figure.. The report’s mention of him being surrounded by loved ones at the time of death reflects the close ties that sustained him beyond the sport. even as his on-field achievements continue to be revisited by fans and teams alike.
Craig Morton death Super Bowl VI Denver Broncos Dallas Cowboys quarterback New York Giants tribute College Football Hall of Fame