The quiet grit of Cowboys legend Craig Morton

The 1971 season brought one of the most unusual experiments in football history when Tom Landry couldn’t make up his mind which quarterback he wanted to play, so he alternated between Morton and Roger Staubach. Sometimes they alternated games, other times between series, and even one time between every single offensive play in a Halloween game against the Chicago Bears. It was a difficult situation for any athlete, but Morton handled the rotation with professional grace. Eventually, Landry decided to commit to Staubach full-time, which moved Morton into a backup role as the team went on to win its first title.

Morton found himself back in the spotlight in 1972 after Staubach suffered a preseason shoulder injury. He stepped in and guided the Cowboys to a solid 10-4 record, but the season took a dramatic turn during the divisional playoffs against the 49ers. After Morton struggled, he was benched in favor of a returning Staubach, who led an iconic 15-point comeback in the fourth quarter. That game effectively marked the end of Morton’s era as a starter in Dallas.

In October of 1974, Morton was traded to the New York Giants in a move that would benefit the Cowboys for years to come. Dallas received a first-round draft pick in exchange for the veteran quarterback, a pick they used to select future Hall of Famer Randy White. It was a bittersweet departure, but one that paved the way for the next great chapter of the Dallas defense.

Years later, the football gods set the stage for a unique reunion when Morton led the Denver Broncos against the Cowboys in Super Bowl XII. He found himself facing his former teammates on the world’s biggest stage. Unfortunately for Morton, he was on the receiving end of a dominant performance by the Doomsday Defense, resulting in a 27-10 victory for the Cowboys.

Morton had a profound and lasting influence on the success of the Cowboys, contributing both through his play on the field and the assets he brought back in trade. He was a man of immense talent and resilience who helped bridge the gap to the championship years. He will be remembered with great respect as a foundational piece of the Star, and his impact on the franchise will never be forgotten.