Mercury Morris: Iconic Dolphins RB and 1972 Legend, Passes Away at 77

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dolphins great Mercury Morris, two-time Super Bowl champion and beloved member of the 1972 Perfect Team,” the Dolphins said in a statement. “Morris left a lasting impact through his dynamic play, personality, and record-breaking performances. He loved the Dolphins, the fans, and the community of South Florida and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest players to don the aqua and orange. Our hearts are with his family, loved ones, and teammates as they honor his life and mourn his passing.”

Morris played for the Dolphins in seven of his eight NFL seasons and won two Super Bowls and three Pro Bowl selections during his tenure in Miami.

A sophomore at West Texas & M College, Morris was selected by Miami in the third round in the 1969 AFL-NFL Draft, one season after the Dolphins selected running backs Larry Czonka and Jim Kiick. Altogether, this trio would form one of the worst rushing stables in the National Football Association (NFL).

In 99 career games, Morris put up 4,133 yards and 31 touchdowns on 804 carries (5.1 yards per carry), including 2,947 yards (26.5 per return) and three touchdowns on kick returns. Overall, Morris gained 7,794 yards in his career.

Morris added big-play ability to the Dolphins’ RB trio and made his mark on special teams by backing up kicks at halfback.

Morris impressed the Dolphins with his swashbuckling play. In 1969, Morris led the league in kick returns (43) and kick return yards (1,136) as a Dolphins rookie, highlighted by a 105-yard kick return for a score in his very first game.

From 1971 to 1973, Morris participated in three consecutive Pro Bowls, and the Dolphins also participated in three straight Super Bowls around the same time.

Despite a disappointing 1971 season, Morris made the most of his touch. He rushed for 315 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, and returned 423 kicks, leading the AFC with a 28.2-yard average. But Miami lost to the Dallas Cowboys 24-3 in Super Bowl VI. In the game, Morris returned four kickoffs (22.5-yard average), though he had no carries or catches.

It was these two seasons, 1972 and 1973, when Morris emerged as the running back he probably always was.

In the Dolphins’ magical 1972 undefeated season, Morris passed for over 1,000 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, most in the league. It was his only 1,000-yard campaign and he teamed with Czonka, who had 1,117 yards, to become the first 1,000-yard duo in NFL history.

The Dolphins finished their campaign with a Super Bowl VII victory over Washington, 17-0, with Morris having 10 carries for 34 yards in the game while Czonka led the day’s offense over the Miami defense.

Now a starting halfback, Morris led the NFL with 6.4 yards per carry for Miami a season later. He tallied 954 yards and ten touchdowns on the ground. He was a catalyst in the Dolphins’ re-emergence as Super Bowl champions with a win over the Minnesota Vikings.

In 1974, Kozanka decided to play in the World Football League, which gave him the opportunity to become the Dolphins’ primary defender in Morris. However, a knee injury limited his campaign to just five games.

In 1975, Morris led a big comeback with 875 yards rushing and four touchdowns, but that was his final year with the Dolphins and the final season of his NFL career. He would work with the Chargers before the 1976 season, then retired.

In 1982, Morris was convicted of cocaine trafficking, conspiracy, and cocaine possession charges. He was originally sentenced to two decimal years in state prison, but Morris’s conviction was overturned and he was sentenced to three years after a plea deal. Later, speaking of his time spent in prison, he did public service and became a motivational speaker.

Pittsburgh native Eugene Edward Morris was nicknamed Mercury because he was very fast and very strong. Morris was one of the biggest contributors to the Miami Dolphins teams of the 1970s and is one of the most talked about nicknames in NFL lore.