--- title: "Craig Morton, first QB to start Super Bowl for two teams, dies at 83" description: "The pioneering passer who led the Cowboys and Broncos to the big game leaves a legacy of toughness and longevity." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/craig-morton-super-bowl-starter-for-cowboys-and-broncos-di-mp24tzml published: 2026-05-12T02:59:12+00:00 updated: 2026-05-13T03:23:46.597+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["football"] --- # Craig Morton, first QB to start Super Bowl for two teams, dies at 83 > The pioneering passer who led the Cowboys and Broncos to the big game leaves a legacy of toughness and longevity. Craig Morton, the quarterback who made history by starting a Super Bowl for two different franchises, died at 83. Morton first led the Dallas Cowboys to Super Bowl V in 1971, then guided the Denver Broncos to their first Super Bowl appearance in XII seven years later. He remains the only QB to achieve that feat until Kurt Warner matched it. Morton's 18-year NFL career spanned 1965 to 1982, amassing 27,908 passing yards and 183 touchdowns. He was known for his pinpoint accuracy and resilience, playing through injuries that would sideline modern signal-callers. His death closes a chapter on a rare NFL legacy that bridged two iconic teams. Morton's journey was anything but linear. Drafted by Dallas in 1965, he spent years behind Don Meredith before taking the reins. In Super Bowl V, he threw for 127 yards but the Cowboys fell to the Colts 16-13. After losing his starting job to Roger Staubach, Morton was traded to the Giants, then found new life in Denver. With the Broncos, he orchestrated a Cinderella run to Super Bowl XII, where they lost to the Cowboys. Morton threw for 365 yards in that game, a record for a losing QB at the time. His two-franchise Super Bowl starts remained unmatched for decades. Morton's impact extends beyond trivia. He was a symbol of the pre-free agency era, when players often spent years with one team and loyalty defined careers. His ability to resurrect his career in Denver after being cast aside by Dallas showed a grit that today's game rarely demands. Morton finished his career with a 61-70-4 record as a starter, but his legacy is measured in moments, not wins. He was never inducted into the Hall of Fame, but his place in NFL history is secure as the first to bridge two Super Bowl eras. What's next: The NFL community will honor Morton at upcoming games, and his family plans a private memorial. His name will live on in trivia books and highlight reels as a pioneer of the big game. ## Why this matters Craig Morton's death marks the end of an era for a unique NFL legacy. He was the first quarterback to start a Super Bowl for two different teams, a feat that required not just talent but the resilience to rebuild a career. Morton's story highlights the pre-free agency era, when players often toiled for years before reaching the big stage. His journey from Cowboys backup to Broncos savior is a testament to perseverance in a league that often discards veterans. For fans of both franchises, Morton represents a bridge between the Cowboys' early dynasty and the Broncos' rise to prominence. ## Frequently asked ### Which Super Bowls did Craig Morton start? Morton started Super Bowl V for the Dallas Cowboys in 1971 and Super Bowl XII for the Denver Broncos in 1978. ### Is Craig Morton the only QB to start a Super Bowl for two teams? No, Kurt Warner later matched the feat with the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals. Morton was the first. ### What were Morton's career stats? He threw for 27,908 yards and 183 touchdowns over 18 seasons, with a 61-70-4 record as a starter. ### Did Morton win a Super Bowl? No. He lost Super Bowl V with the Cowboys and Super Bowl XII with the Broncos. ## Sources & Citations - [Craig Morton, Super Bowl starter for Cowboys and Broncos, dies](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48746277/craig-morton-super-bowl-starter-cowboys-broncos-dies) — ESPN (2026-05-12) - [Former Cowboys, Broncos QB Craig Morton dies at 83](https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/1tak9l8/former_cowboys_broncos_qb_craig_morton_dies_at_83/) — r/nfl (2026-05-11) --- Cite: Craig Morton, first QB to start Super Bowl for two teams, dies at 83. Sportopod, 2026-05-12. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/craig-morton-super-bowl-starter-for-cowboys-and-broncos-di-mp24tzml