R.I.P Earl Morrall

[Oldschool739]

Longtime NFL quarterback Earl Morrall dies at 79

Longtime NFL quarterback Earl Morrall dies at 79 | ProFootballTalk


Posted by Michael David Smith on April 25, 2014, 2:42 PM EDT

Earl Morrall, a quarterback who played for six different teams over 21 NFL seasons and helped get two different teams to the Super Bowl, has died at the age of 79.
Morrall is best remembered for his years under coach Don Shula, whom he played for on Super Bowl teams both in Baltimore and in Miami.
With the Baltimore Colts in 1968, Morrall was the NFL’s regular season Most Valuable Player, leading the league with 26 touchdown passes and leading his team to a 13-1 record. That season is, however, remembered mostly for the Colts’ upset loss to the Jets in Super Bowl III, a game in which Shula benched Morrall for Johnny Unitas.
But Shula thought highly of Morrall, and in 1972, after Shula had left Baltimore to coach the Dolphins, he brought Morrall with him. That year Morrall started most of the season after Bob Griese went down with an injury, and Morrall helped the Dolphins go 17-0, the only perfect season in NFL history.

 

[KansasSooner]

 

[leftypower]

Without a doubt the greatest backup in NFL history. .... never really agreed with the Colts benching for SB - but when you do it for Unitas I guess it was the correct move.

 

[BritishDolfan]

Without a doubt the greatest backup in NFL history. .... never really agreed with the Colts benching for SB - but when you do it for Unitas I guess it was the correct move.

Agreed. RIP Earl.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

That was one heck of a season Morrall had in 1968. Had to be bitter sweet for him, the way it ended. RIP Earl.