Cards: Topps 1977, SP Signature Edition 2005
Acquired: TTM 2010, c/o Home.
Sent: 4/28 Received: 7/9 (72 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
- Mercury Morris was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 3rd round of the 1969 draft, playing in the final year of the AFL before the merger.
- He’d lead the AFL in both kick returns (43) and yards (1136) his rookie year and moonlight on punt returns as well.
- Initially Morris found himself playing as a backup running back and special teams returner to Jim Kiick with gradually increasing playing time.
- In 1972, Mercury combined with Larry Csonka to form the first 1,000 yard duo.
- He ran for 1,000 yards on 190 carries and led the league with 12 rushing TDs.
- In 1973, he’d power through the season with a league leading 6.4 yards per carry (149 carries), despite playing with two broken vertebra for a good portion of the season.
- Then in his final swan song with Miami, he toted the rock a career high 219 times in 1975.
- Morris was traded to the Chargers in 1976.
- He’d retire after the season due to the lingering neck injury he sustained from 1973.
ACCOLADES:
- ProBowl 1971-’73
- Dolphins Walk of Fame 2013
NOTES:
“Mercury” Morris was aptly nicknamed, based on his mercurial quickness, and later proven by the fact that he stands 1st amongst halfbacks on average yards per carry at 5.1 (with at least 750 attempts) and his kick return average of 26.5 stands in the NFL top ten. He was another AFLer that I sent away for after watching “Full Color Football” on the NFL Network.
Since retirement Morris had been involved in television, public speaking, commercials, and wrote a book about his life entitled “Against the Grain” (1988). An outspoken advocate for improving player benefits, Mercury continued to battle with the NFL to acknowledge and compensate him and his former gladiator brethren for their increasing medical expenses caused by their playing days. (Mercury had suffered from lingering and debilitating headaches from his fused spine and deadened nerves.)
| RUSH | YDS | AVG | TD | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 804 | 4133 | 5.1 | 31 | 70 |
| REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | 543 | 10.1 | 1 | 50 |
| KR | YDS | AVG | TD | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111 | 2947 | 26.5 | 3 | 105t |
| PR | YDS | AVG | TD | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 171 | 6.3 | 0 | 38 |
EPITAPH:
9/21/24- Mercury’s son announced the passing of his father Saturday night. No cause of death was given.