The sports world now knows exactly what felled one of the Denver Broncos' all-time greats. Craig Morton, the quarterback who led the franchise to its first Super Bowl, passed away earlier this month at 83, and the official cause has been confirmed.
According to the Marin County Vital Statistics Office, Morton died on May 9 from “acute respiratory failure due to severe sepsis due to urinary tract infection.” He was pronounced dead at MarinHealth Medical Center in Greenbrae, California.
A Legend's Final Words
In a poignant interview with The Denver Post, Morton's wife, Kym Galloway, shared that the former signal-caller had grown weary of his health struggles. “He was tired of his back, he was really in a lot of pain with his back. And he just said, ‘I give [up]. I’m ready to go. I don’t want to do this anymore. I’ve had an amazing life. And I’m just tired,’” Galloway recalled. She added, “And then … he said, ‘I’ve never said I give [up], in my life.’”
Morton's passing has drawn reflections on a career that spanned nearly two decades and included stops with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and most notably, the Broncos. He was selected fifth overall in the 1965 NFL Draft and went on to post an 81-62-1 record as a starter. He shared quarterback duties with Roger Staubach on the Cowboys' Super Bowl VI-winning team and was named Comeback Player of the Year in 1977.
Denver's First Super Bowl Hero
Morton's time in Denver marked a career revival. After three challenging seasons with the Giants, he joined the Broncos and immediately sparked the famed Orange Crush defense-led squad. In 1978, he guided Denver to its first Super Bowl appearance, a moment that cemented his legacy in the Mile High City. He started 64 games for the club from 1977 to 1982 and was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 1988—an honor shared by only 37 individuals.
The news of Morton's cause of death arrives alongside other recent NFL-related tragedies, including the toxicology report that revealed the cause of former NFL lineman Josh Mauro's death. It also follows Colin Cowherd claiming the NFL quietly punished the Broncos with a brutal early schedule, a reminder of the ongoing scrutiny the franchise faces.
A California Kid Who Made Good
Morton grew up in California, starring at Campbell High before finishing seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting while playing for Cal in the mid-1960s. He died in his home state, surrounded by memories of a life well lived.
His legacy as a pioneer for Denver football endures, even as the Broncos continue to search for their next franchise quarterback. The team's Ring of Fame will forever honor the man who first took them to the big game.
