Craig Morton, quarterback who led the Broncos to their first Super Bowl appearance, dead at 83

Former Denver Broncos backmost Craig Morton, who was inducted into nan team’s Ring of Fame, died connected Saturday. He was 83.

Morton was captious successful helping nan Broncos scope their first-ever playoff appearance, yet getting them to Super Bowl XII during nan 1977 campaign.

After going 12-2 during nan season, and getting wins successful nan playoffs complete nan Pittsburgh Steelers and then-Oakland Raiders, Morton was named nan AFC Offensive Player of nan Year.

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Denver Broncos backmost Craig Morton stands connected nan sidelines pinch some hands connected his hips. (GETTY)

"Craig Morton is unbelievable," chap Ring of Famer Haven Moses said aft nan Broncos won nan AFC Championship successful 1978, per nan New York Times. "To me, he’s nan astir valuable subordinate successful nan National Football League."

Morton besides won Sporting News Player of nan Year, nan PFWA Comeback Player of nan Year and nan NFL UPI MVP successful 1977.

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"We are saddened to study of nan passing of #BroncosROF backmost Craig Morton, who died connected Saturday astatine nan property of 83," nan Broncos posted connected societal media.

Morton besides led nan Broncos to 2 different section titles and 3 playoff berths during his six seasons pinch nan franchise. He vanished his profession successful Denver pinch 11,895 passing yards, which marked nan astir successful franchise history astatine nan time.

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Quarterback Craig Morton #7 of nan Denver Broncos drops backmost to walk during an NFL crippled astatine Mile High Stadium successful Denver, Colo., circa 1978. Morton played for nan Broncos from 1977 to 1982. (Focus On Sport/Getty Images)

Morton besides led nan Broncos pinch walk attempts (1,594) and completions (907). But Morton’s clip pinch nan Broncos was nan second half of his NFL career.

He was drafted by nan Dallas Cowboys successful 1965, nan 5th wide prime retired of Cal. Morton spent nan first 10 seasons of his profession pinch nan Cowboys, wherever he threw for 10,279 yards pinch 80 touchdowns and 73 interceptions. He went 32-14-1 successful his clip pinch Dallas.

Then, during nan 1974 season, Morton was moved to nan New York Giants, a section rival of nan Cowboys. He went 1-6 successful his first 7 starts that twelvemonth and wouldn’t find overmuch occurrence successful New York crossed 3 seasons.

Quarterback Craig Morton #7 of nan Denver Broncos drops backmost to walk during an NFL crippled astatine Mile High Stadium successful Denver, Colo., circa 1978. Morton played for nan Broncos from 1977 to 1982. (Focus On Sport/Getty Images)

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For his career, Morton threw for 27,908 yards pinch 183 touchdowns. He owned an 81-62-1 grounds crossed 207 games.