The cause of death for Craig Morton was revealed yesterday, May 18.
Videos by Wide Open Country
The former NFL quarterback died on May 9 at the MarinHealth Medical Center in Greenbrae, California. He appeared in the Super Bowl twice during his 18 seasons in the league, once with the Dallas Cowboys and once with the Denver Broncos.
What Was the Cause of Death for Craig Morton?
As the New York Post reports, Morton died from "acute respiratory failure due to severe sepsis due to urinary tract infection." This is according to a spokesperson from the Marin County Vital Statistics Office.
Morton's wife, Kym Galloway, shared that the QB was "tired of being sick" before his death.
"He was tired of his back; he was really in a lot of pain with his back," she said. "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. And then ... he said, 'I've never said I give (up) in my life.'"
Morton is survived by Galloway, his sister, and his children and grandchildren.
Morton Made History
In his career, Morton made history as the first quarterback to start a Super Bowl for two different franchises. Since then, only Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Kurt Warner have achieved the same feat.
Morton eventually brought home a ring while serving as the Cowboys' backup quarterback in 1972.
And while Manning may have won a ring wearing the Broncos' orange and blue, Morton remains one of the most successful quarterbacks in the team's history.
His 41 regular-season wins still rank third in the history of the franchise. He led Denver to two division titles and three playoff appearances.
At the time of his retirement, Morton held franchise records for passing yards (11,895), passing touchdowns (74), pass attempts (1,594), and completions (907).
"Playing in those two Super Bowls was a special honor," he said. "I had a long, fulfilling career in the NFL, but those Super Bowl experiences really made it extra rewarding."
In 1988, Morton was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame. Two years earlier, in 1986, he was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.
