Craig Morton's Heartbreaking Last Words Reveal He Was Ready To Give Up The Fight

Yo, Seattle fam, just hitting you with some seriously heavy news that just dropped about a true NFL legend. Craig Morton, a quarterback who started not one, but *two* Super Bowls for different franchises, sadly passed away last week at 83. We didn't know the cause then, but now the details are out, and man, it's a gut punch. This dude, who once commanded the field, left us after a battle, and his final days sound like pure agony.

A Painful End for a Gridiron Great

The NY Post just reported the official cause of death, and it's tough to hear. Morton died on May 9 from "acute respiratory failure due to severe sepsis due to urinary tract infection." Can you even imagine that? The report pinned his location of death to MarinHealth Medical Center in Greenbrae, California, according to a spokesperson from the Marin County Vital Statistics Office. It’s a stark reminder of how fragile life can be, even for the toughest guys to ever put on a helmet. Morton was the first QB in NFL history to start Super Bowls for two different teams, a feat that shows just how impactful he was on the game.

"I'm Ready To Go": Morton's Heartbreaking Final Confession

What really hits you, though, are the words from his wife, Kym Galloway. She told the Denver Post that before he passed, Craig had expressed he was "tired of being sick." She said he was in a lot of pain with his back, and he just reached a point where he 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, she added the kicker: "He said, ‘I’ve never said I give (up), in my life.’" That right there? That tells you everything you need to know about the immense suffering he endured. For a guy who never gave up on the field, to reach that point off it, it just shows the kind of battle he was fighting.

Beyond the Pain: Remembering A Two-Time Super Bowl QB

Morton's career was legendary, spanning 18 seasons from 1965 to 1982 with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Denver Broncos. He was the real deal. He led both Dallas and Denver to their first Super Bowl appearances, starting in the 1971 Super Bowl for the Cowboys and the 1978 Super Bowl for the Broncos. While those two ended in losses, he still hoisted the Lombardi Trophy with the 1972 Cowboys as Roger Staubach's backup. The Cowboys snagged him as the No. 5 overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft, and he played over 100 games for them before heading to the Giants and then finishing his career with the Broncos. He wrapped up his incredible run with 27,908 passing yards, a testament to his longevity and skill. It’s a tough reminder of the grind these guys go through, week in and week out, and the battles they sometimes face long after the cheers fade. The game is brutal, but so can life be. Legends like Craig Morton leave their mark way beyond the field, and his story reminds us to appreciate every moment, and every player, who gives their all. Our thoughts are with his family during this incredibly difficult time.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.