Morton first landed in Dallas in 1965, when the Cowboys selected him at fifth overall in the NFL draft. He started only five games in the first four years of his professional career, as he mainly served as Meredith’s backup. Morton’s playing time kicked up in 1969 after Meredith’s retirement, as he led Dallas to a 10-2-1 record while throwing for 2,619 yards, 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
He dealt with a right shoulder injury throughout the 1969 campaign, undergoing surgery at the end of the season. Morton returned to the field in 1970 and led the Cowboys to the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl V, where they suffered a 16-13 loss to the Baltimore Colts.
The 1971 season was a pivotal one for Morton. Cowboys head coach Tom Landry alternated between Morton and Staubach in the early part of the season. The back-and-forth between Morton and Staubach carried on until a Week 7 game against the Chicago Bears, where Landry had both quarterbacks rotating in and out of each offensive play. After that game, the Cowboys moved forward with Staubach as their starter. Staubach ultimately led the Cowboys to a 10-game win streak and a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI.
Morton’s time in Dallas came to an end in 1974, when he was traded to the New York Giants. Morton struggled in New York, but enjoyed a renaissance after getting traded to Denver before the 1977 season — the season that put the Broncos on the map.
The veteran QB became the final piece for a Broncos team under a new coach, Red Miller, who inherited a strong defense that would become known as the Orange Crush.
Morton led the Broncos to a 12-2 record and playoff wins over the Steelers and Raiders. He famously spent the week in the hospital with a hip injury before spearheading the win over rival Oakland.
Morton went on to become one of the Broncos’ all-time great signal callers. He quickly found his footing with the Broncos during the 1977 season, leading the team to a 12-2 mark. He earned several awards for his showing that year, being named NFL PFWA Comeback Player of the Year and NFL UPI MVP.
Morton led the Broncos to Super Bowl XII at the end of the 1977 season, going up against the Staubach-led Cowboys. With its Doomsday Defense leading the way, Dallas defeated Denver 27-10.
Four years later — and after the Broncos had toyed unsuccessfully with finding his replacement — Morton teamed with a new coach, his former Cowboys teammate Dan Reeves. In 1981, Morton threw for 3,195 yards and 21 TDs, both career highs.
He retired after starting three games in the strike-shortened 1982 season. Denver would trade for John Elway, who supplanted Morton as the franchise’s most famous and revered No. 7.
Morton threw for 27,908 yards over his career with 183 touchdowns and 187 interceptions. Morton ranked in the top 20 all-time in yards passing and TD passes when he retired following the 1982 season.
He was voted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 1988, along with two other standouts from that ’77 team — Haven Moses and Jim Turner.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.