Earl Morrall
May 17, 1934 — April 25, 2014
Earl Edwin Morrall was a professional football quarterback who played 21 seasons in the NFL — a remarkable longevity that included a 1968 NFL MVP Award, a Super Bowl win with the Baltimore Colts, and the most storied backup performance in league history during the Miami Dolphins' undefeated 1972 season.
A Career Built on Resilience
Born on May 17, 1934 in Muskegon, Michigan, Morrall starred at Michigan State University before being selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 1956 NFL Draft. He spent his career as both a starter and a dependable backup across six franchises — the 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Baltimore Colts, and Miami Dolphins — accumulating experience that made him one of the most complete quarterbacks of his era even if he never achieved the fame of the marquee starters he supported. His durability and professionalism made him deeply respected throughout the league, and he was the last player still active from the 1950s when he finally retired in 1976.
1968 NFL MVP and the Colts
Morrall's defining moment came in 1968, when Baltimore Colts starter Johnny Unitas was injured early in the season. Morrall stepped in and guided the Colts to a 13–1 regular season record, throwing 26 touchdown passes and earning the NFL Most Valuable Player award. The Colts advanced to Super Bowl III against the New York Jets, and despite Morrall's impressive regular season numbers, Joe Namath famously guaranteed a Jets victory. The Jets won 16–7, with Morrall struggling on the day and eventually being replaced by Unitas. Two years later, however, in Super Bowl V, Morrall came off the bench for an injured Unitas and helped the Colts stay in the game before they won on a last-second field goal, giving Morrall his championship ring.
Did You Know?
Morrall's role in the 1972 Miami Dolphins' perfect season was even more remarkable than his 1968 MVP campaign. When Bob Griese broke his ankle in week five, Morrall won all nine of his starts and played well enough in the two playoff games that the decision about who would start Super Bowl VII was genuinely difficult. Head coach Don Shula chose Griese, but Morrall had done everything necessary to keep the perfect season alive to that point.
The Perfect Season Backup
In 1972, now with the Dolphins, Morrall again stepped in for an injured starter — this time Bob Griese — and kept the undefeated season on track with nine wins in nine starts. He started the first two playoff games before Griese returned for the Super Bowl, which Miami won to complete the only perfect 17–0 season in NFL history. Morrall's contributions to both the Colts' Super Bowl V championship and the Dolphins' perfect season represent a unique legacy: he is widely considered the greatest backup quarterback in NFL history, a designation that, on reflection, requires extraordinary ability to earn. He passed away on April 25, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at age 79.