Ravens: Former Baltimore Colts QB Earl Morrall Dies
Feb 1, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula and former Dolphins quarterback Earl Morrall sitting together before the Taste of the NFL breakfast event honoring Earl Morrall for his longtime contributions to hunger relief efforts and to celebrate his legendary football career. A former quarterback who played 21 seasons in the NFL – Morrall played five seasons with the Miami Dolphins and led them to The Perfect Season in 1972. The only NFL team to ever complete an entire season undefeated and go on to win the Super Bowl, the 1972 Dolphins were coached by Don Shula. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports
Earl Morrall, a backup quarterback for Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts, and key player for the 1972 undefeated Miami Dolphins, has died at age 79.
Humility is a virtue not always found in professional athletes, but the fellow who modeled that characteristic as well as anyone in the NFL was Earl Morrall. He served as the ultimate backup quarterback over 21 seasons. And when called upon to start, he played at an extraordinarily high level.
Growing up as a Colts fan, I enjoyed the play of Johnny Unitas in the same way that many younger Baltimore sports fans grew up liking Cal Ripken, for example. But inevitably in the NFL, a time will come when a backup is called upon.
That happened in 1968 with the Colts. In the final preseason game, Unitas suffered a season-ending elbow injury. Earl Morrall came on to lead the Colts to a 13-1 record, while also being named the MVP of the NFL by the Associated Press and the UPI. He threw for 2,909 yards with 26 touchdowns. The Colts would make it to the Super Bowl (III) where they were upset by the Jets and Joe Namath. Morrall had a very bad game.
However, two years later in Super Bowl V, he came in and replaced the injured Unitas, earning distinction that remains to today as the only QB to come off the bench and lead his team to a come-from-behind victory in the big game. This was done against the Doomsday Defense of the Dallas Cowboys.
Only old-time Colts fans remember #15 primarily for these feats, whereas most folks familiar with NFL history recall him for helping the 1972 Dolphins accomplish the only undefeated season ever. He filled in for the famous Bob Griese who was out for nine games with a broken fibula and dislocated ankle. Morrall also took them through two playoff wins over the Browns and Steelers, though Griese returned to lead Miami to the title in Super Bowl VII over the Redskins.
In that 1972 season, he was age 38. He played for the famous Coach Don Shula in both Baltimore and Miami.
Morrall played college football at Michigan State and was a winner of the Rose Bowl. He also played in the college world series.
Check out these stats to see what an impressive career was turned in by the humble man with the flat-top haircut…
Year |
Age
Tm
G
GS
QBrec
Cmp
Att
Cmp%
Yds
TD
Int
1956
22
SFO
12
4
1-3-0
38
78
48.7
621
1
6
1957
23
PIT
12
11
6-5-0
139
289
48.1
1900
11
12
1958
24
2TM
11
2
0-2-0
25
78
32.1
463
5
9
PIT
2
2
0-2-0
16
46
34.8
275
1
7
DET
9
9
32
28.1
188
4
2
1959
25
DET
12
5
2-3-0
65
137
47.4
1102
5
6
1960
26
DET
12
2
2-0-0
32
49
65.3
423
4
3
1961
27
DET
13
6
4-2-0
69
150
46.0
909
7
9
1962
28
DET
14
32
52
61.5
449
4
4
1963
29
DET
14
10
4-6-1
174
328
53.0
2621
24
14
1964
30
DET
6
3
3-0-0
50
91
54.9
588
4
3
1965
31
NYG
14
14
7-7-0
155
302
51.3
2446
22
12
1966
32
NYG
7
7
1-5-1
71
151
47.0
1105
7
12
1967
33
NYG
8
13
24
54.2
181
3
1
1968
34
BAL
14
14
13-1-0
182
317
57.4
2909
26
17
1969
35
BAL
9
2
1-0-1
46
99
46.5
755
5
7
1970
36
BAL
14
1
1-0-0
51
93
54.8
792
9
4
1971
37
BAL
14
9
7-2-0
84
167
50.3
1210
7
12
1972
38
MIA
14
9
9-0-0
83
150
55.3
1360
11
7
1973
39
MIA
14
1
0-1-0
17
38
44.7
253
0
4
1974
40
MIA
14
1
1-0-0
17
27
63.0
301
2
3
1975
41
MIA
13
1
1-0-0
26
43
60.5
273
3
2
1976
42
MIA
14
0
10
26
38.5
148
1
1