Earl Morrall
Questions about Earl Morrall or the Lions?
Earl Morrall Legacy
HEYTC AIEarl Morrall Rating Breakdown
Earl Morrall Career Stats via Wikipedia
Earl Morrall Career Timeline
HEYTC AI1976 1
Retirement
Retired after the 1976 season at age 42, capping a 21-year NFL career with 20,430 passing yards, 161 TDs, and three Super Bowl rings.
1973 1
Super Bowl VII Championship
Backed up Griese in Super Bowl VII, contributing to Miami's 14-7 win over Washington to complete the NFL's only perfect season (17-0).
1972 2
Comeback Player Milestone
Went 4-0-1 after Griese's injury, helping Dolphins to a perfect 14-0 regular season and first unbeaten campaign in NFL history.
Traded to Dolphins
Traded to the Miami Dolphins in September 1972 for a conditional pick; served as backup to Bob Griese for five seasons (1972-1976).
1971 2
Super Bowl V Victory
Replaced injured Unitas in Super Bowl V and led a fourth-quarter comeback for a 16-13 win over the Cowboys, earning MVP consideration.
Injured, Replaced Unitas
Suffered a hand injury early in 1971, paving the way for backup Johnny Unitas; Morrall had started after Unitas's preseason injury.
1969 1
Super Bowl III Loss
Started Super Bowl III for the Colts but was pulled after throwing three interceptions in a shocking 16-7 upset loss to the Jets.
1968 2
NFL MVP Award
Won NFL MVP honors after going 13-0 as starter for Colts post-trade, leading Baltimore to a 13-1 record and throwing 15 TDs with just 6 INTs.
Traded to Colts
Midseason trade to the Baltimore Colts in October 1968 for QB Jim Ward and a fifth-round pick; immediately stabilized the team after injuries to starters.
1966 1
Playoff Run with Lions
Guided Detroit to the playoffs with a 9-5 record; threw for league-leading 2,802 yards and 25 TDs, earning another Pro Bowl nod.
1965 1
All-Pro Honor
Named First-Team All-Pro by the Associated Press following a 1965 season with 2,124 passing yards, 18 TDs, and a Lions playoff berth.
1964 1
Pro Bowl with Lions
Earned his first Pro Bowl selection after leading the Lions to a 7-5-2 record, throwing for 2,312 yards and 21 touchdowns.
1962 1
Traded to Lions
Acquired by the Detroit Lions from the Giants; began a seven-year tenure (1962-1968), emerging as a starter and posting strong seasons.
1958 1
Selected by Giants
Chosen by the New York Giants in the 1958 NFL Expansion Draft; played three seasons (1959-1961) primarily as a backup, starting a handful of games.
1957 1
Traded to Steelers
Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a multi-player deal; spent two seasons (1957-1958) as a backup, appearing in 11 games with limited action.
1956 2
Signed with 49ers
Morrall signed his rookie contract with the 49ers and appeared in 12 games as a backup quarterback during his lone season with the team.
Drafted by 49ers
Earl Morrall was selected by the San Francisco 49ers as a first-round pick (second overall) in the 1956 NFL Draft out of Michigan State.
Frequently Asked Questions About Earl Morrall
How does Jared Goff compare to Earl Morrall?
Jared Goff's got the steady hand steering the Lions now, but Earl Morrall's the ultimate Detroit contingency plan—20,809 yards, 161 TDs over 21 seasons, including a 1963 stint with 1,143 yards and that gritty 76.4 Lions rating. Goff chases rings in a pass-happy era; Morrall was the '68 MVP Colts savior who won three Super Bowls as a sub. Legacy? Morrall's the foxhole hero Goff dreams of emulating.
Is Earl Morrall in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Nope, Earl Morrall's not in Canton, despite two Pro Bowls, '68 MVP hardware, and three Super Bowl rings as a gunslinger-for-hire across six teams. The Hall snub stings—he backed up Unitas, sparked the '72 perfect Dolphins, threw for 20,809 yards—but voters prized starters over his 21-year nomadic brilliance. Florida Sports Hall got him right in 2000.
How would Earl Morrall perform in today's NFL?
Morrall's cannon arm and moxie—think 161 TDs, 20,809 yards in a run-first era—would feast under today's no-roughing rules and spread offenses. That '68 MVP season (93.5 rating) translates to 4,000-yard campaigns, dodging blitzes like a '70s Shula schemer. Mobility's no liability with quick releases; he'd be a 38-year-old rookie sensation, not unlike late-blooming Stafford.
How does Earl Morrall compare to Bobby Layne?
Both Lions icons, but Bobby Layne's wild 38.72 career rating laps Morrall's steadier 20.47—Layne the gunslinging drunkard who dragged Detroit to two titles, Morrall the reliable backup with 6,280 Lions yards, 52 TDs in 80 games. Layne owned the spotlight; Morrall cleaned up, like '63's 1,143-yard push. Franchise heartbeat? Layne pulses, Morrall steadies.