Former Broncos QB Craig Morton Dies at 83

Former Denver Broncos quarterback Craig Morton, a member of the team's Ring of Fame, died Saturday. He was 83.

Morton played a key role in the Broncos' first playoff appearance, taking them to Super Bowl XII in the 1977 season.

The team went 12-2 that year and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders in the playoffs. Morton earned AFC Offensive Player of the Year.

"Craig Morton is unbelievable," fellow Ring of Famer Haven Moses said after the Broncos won the AFC Championship in 1978, according to the New York Times. "To me, he’s the most valuable player in the National Football League."

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 on Saturday at the age of 83," the Broncos said on social media.

Morton guided the Broncos to two division titles and three playoff berths in six seasons. He ended his Denver career with 11,895 passing yards, a franchise record at the time. He led the team in pass attempts with 1,594 and completions with 907.

His Broncos stint came late in his NFL career. The Dallas Cowboys drafted Morton fifth overall out of Cal in 1965. He spent 10 seasons there, passing for 10,279 yards with 80 touchdowns and 73 interceptions. He went 32-14-1 with Dallas.

The Cowboys traded Morton to the New York Giants in 1974, a division rival. He went 1-6 in his first seven starts that year and struggled over three seasons in New York.

Over 207 career games, Morton threw for 27,908 yards and 183 touchdowns. He finished with an 81-62-1 record.