{"id":790866,"date":"2026-05-12T10:33:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T10:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/790866\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T10:33:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T10:33:17","slug":"former-new-york-giants-qb-craig-morton-dies-at-83","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/790866\/","title":{"rendered":"Former New York Giants QB Craig Morton dies at 83"},"content":{"rendered":"

May 12, 2026, 6:06 a.m. ET<\/p>\n

Craig Morton, who quarterbacked the New York Giants<\/a> during some of their darkest days of the 1970s, has passed away at the age of 83.<\/p>\n

Morton’s family confirmed he died at his home in Mill Valley, California, on May 9.<\/p>\n

“We are saddened to hear of Craig\u2019s passing. He was a great leader and teammate. Our thoughts are with his family and friends,” the Giants said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Morton came to the Giants via a trade with the Dallas Cowboys six games into the 1974 season in exchange for the Giants’ first-round pick in the 1975 NFL draft and their second-rounder in 1976. Morton had lost the quarterback battle to future Hall of Famer Roger Staubach and was expendable.<\/p>\n

With those picks, the Cowboys selected Maryland defensive lineman Randy White, who went on to have a Hall of Fame career, and running back\/tight end Jim Jensen.<\/p>\n

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a><\/p>\n

Morton was not a fit for the Giants and their mid-1970s popgun offense under head coach Bill Arnsparger. He compiled a record of 8-25, passing for a total of 5,734 yards with 29 touchdowns versus 49 interceptions, and logged a 52.1 completion percentage.<\/p>\n

Morton became the face of the Giants’ misery, playing during some of the team’s most trying years. They played their home games in three different stadiums (Yale Bowl, Shea Stadium, Giants Stadium) in three different states and had fallen into disarray thanks to having some of their most fruitless drafts in the early 70s.<\/p>\n

In March of 1977, the Giants decided to move on from Morton, trading him to the Denver Broncos in exchange for quarterback Steve Ramsey, a fifth-round pick in 1978, and a future sixth-round pick.<\/p>\n

Morton used the trade to rekindle his career. He promptly led the Broncos to the Super Bowl in 1977 and was named both the NFL Comeback Player of the Year and the AFC Offensive Player of the Year. The Broncos lost to the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, 27-10. Randy White, ironically, was named a co-MVP in the game.<\/p>\n

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