Craig Morton, a professional athlete who served as a starting quarterback for both the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos, died on May 9 at the age of 83 in Mill Valley, California.

Craig Morton 是一位職業運動員，曾分別擔任達拉斯牛仔與丹佛野馬隊的先發四分衛，於 5 月 9 日在加州 Mill Valley 逝世，享年 83 歲。

The subject's professional trajectory commenced following his selection as the fifth overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, subsequent to a distinguished collegiate tenure at the University of California. During his initial decade with Dallas, Morton transitioned from a reserve role under Don Meredith to a primary starter, eventually guiding the franchise to its inaugural Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl V. This period was characterized by a documented competition for the starting position with Roger Staubach, a dynamic that eventually precipitated Morton's departure to the New York Giants in 1974.

在加州大學擁有卓越的大學生涯後，他在 1965 年 NFL 選秀中被達拉斯牛仔隊以第五順位選中，從此開啟了職業生涯。在達拉斯的最初十年中，Morton 從 Don Meredith 旗下的後備角色轉型為主力先發，最終帶領球隊在第五屆超級盃中首次亮相。這段時期他與 Roger Staubach 競爭先發位置的過程被廣為記錄，而這種競爭動態最終促使 Morton 在 1974 年轉會至紐約巨人隊。

Following a period of diminished performance with the Giants, Morton's career underwent a revitalization upon his acquisition by the Denver Broncos prior to the 1977 season. Under the direction of coach Red Miller, Morton facilitated the Broncos' first playoff appearance and their subsequent advancement to Super Bowl XII. His contributions during the 1977 campaign resulted in several accolades, including the AFC Offensive Player of the Year, the NFL UPI MVP, and the PFWA Comeback Player of the Year. This tenure established several franchise records for passing yardage, attempts, and completions, which persisted until the arrival of John Elway.

在巨人隊表現下滑一段時間後，Morton 在 1977 年賽季前被丹佛野馬隊簽下，事業隨即迎來復興。在總教練 Red Miller 的指導下，Morton 助力野馬隊首次進入季後賽，並隨後晉級至第十二屆超級盃。他在 1977 年賽季的貢獻使其獲得多項榮譽，包括 AFC 年度最佳進攻球員、NFL UPI MVP 以及 PFWA 年度最佳回歸球員。他在野馬隊期間創下的傳球碼數、傳球嘗試次數及完成次數等多項隊史紀錄，一直維持到 John Elway 到來為止。

Historically, Morton is distinguished as the first quarterback to start the Super Bowl for two separate organizations. Despite this achievement, his championship appearances as a starter resulted in losses for both the Cowboys and the Broncos. His career concluded in 1982 after an 18-year tenure in the league, during which he accumulated 27,908 passing yards and 183 touchdowns. His professional legacy was formally recognized through his 1988 induction into the Broncos' Ring of Fame and his 1992 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

從歷史角度來看，Morton 是首位為兩支不同球隊在超級盃擔任先發的四分衛。儘管取得了這一成就，但他作為先發出席的冠軍賽均以失利告終，對牛仔隊與野馬隊皆然。他在聯盟中效力 18 年後，於 1982 年結束職業生涯，期間累計傳球 27,908 碼並達成 183 次達陣。他的職業成就於 1988 年入選野馬隊名人堂 (Ring of Fame) 及 1992 年入選大學美式足球名人堂而獲得正式認可。

Craig Morton is survived by his spouse, sibling, children, and grandchildren, with his professional contributions acknowledged by the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Denver Broncos organizations.

Craig Morton 留下了配偶、兄弟姊妹、子女及孫子女，其職業貢獻獲得了達拉斯牛仔、紐約巨人與丹佛野馬隊的認可。