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Super Bowl champion quarterback Craig Morton died last week at the age of 83, and on Monday his cause of death was revealed.
Morton died on May 9 of “acute respiratory failure due to severe sepsis due to urinary tract infection,” a spokesman for the Marin County, California, Vital Statistics Office told the California Post.
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Denver Broncos quarterback Craig Morton throws a pass during a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colo., on Aug. 12, 1978. (Malcolm Emmons/USA TODAY NETWORK)
Kym Galloway, the former quarterback’s wife, told The Denver Post that Morton was tired of having pain and dealing with his back.
“And he just said, ‘I give (up).’ I’m ready to go. I don’t want to do this anymore. I’ve had a great life. And I’m just tired,” Galloway added. “And then … he said, ‘I’ve never said I’m giving (up), in my life.’
Morton was instrumental in helping the Broncos make their first ever playoff appearance, ultimately getting them to Super Bowl XII during the 1977 campaign.
After going 12-2 during the season and winning in the playoffs over the Pittsburgh Steelers and then-Oakland Raiders, Morton was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Year. Morton also won Sporting News Player of the Year, PFWA Comeback Player of the Year and NFL UPI MVP in 1977.
“We are saddened to learn of the passing of #BroncosROF quarterback Craig Morton, who died Saturday at the age of 83,” the Broncos wrote on social media.
Denver Broncos quarterback Craig Morton throws a pass during Super Bowl XII at the Superdome in New Orleans, La., Jan. 15, 1978. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Broncos 27-10. (Malcolm Emmons/USA TODAY Sports)
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Morton led the Broncos to two different division titles and three playoff berths during his six seasons with the franchise. He finished his career in Denver with 11,895 passing yards, marking the most in franchise history at the time.
Morton also led the Broncos in pass attempts (1,594) and completions (907). But Morton’s time with the Broncos was the latter half of his NFL career.
He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1965, the fifth overall pick out of Cal. Morton spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Cowboys, throwing for 10,279 yards with 80 touchdowns and 73 interceptions. He went 32-14-1 in his time with Dallas.
Then, during the 1974 season, Morton was moved to the New York Giants, a division rival of the Cowboys. He went 1-6 in his first seven starts that year and wouldn’t find much success in New York across three seasons.
New York Giants quarterback Craig Morton throws the ball under pressure from Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Andy Russell during a preseason game at Palmer Stadium in Princeton, NJ on August 30, 1975. (Malcolm Emmons/USA TODAY NETWORK)
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For his career, Morton threw for 27,908 yards with 183 touchdowns. He owned an 81-62-1 record across 207 games.
