Mercury Morris, legendary running back of the Dolphins and member of the undefeated 1972 team, dies at age 77

Mercury Morris, a mainstay of the legendary Miami Dolphins team of the 1970s, has died at the age of 77, the team announced Sunday.

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

Morris played seven of his eight NFL seasons for the Dolphins, won two Super Bowls during his time with Miami and was selected to the Pro Bowl three times.

Morris was an All-American at West Texas A&M and was selected by Miami in the third round of the 1969 AFL-NFL Draft, one season after the Dolphins selected running backs Larry Czonka and Jim Kiick. Together, the trio would form one of the most impressive rushing stables in NFL history.

In 99 career games, Morris rushed for 4,133 yards and 31 touchdowns on 804 carries (5.1 yards per carry), plus 2,947 yards (26.5 per return) and three touchdowns on kick returns. In total, Morris rushed for 7,794 yards in his career.

Morris complemented the Dolphins' RB trio with his ability to make big plays and initially made a name for himself on special teams, backing up Kiick at halfback.

Morris made an immediate impression with the Dolphins with his game-winning explosiveness, including a 105-yard kick return that earned him a point in his very first game. As a Dolphins rookie in 1969, Morris led the league in kick returns (43) and kick return yards (1,136).

From 1971 to 1973, Morris appeared in three consecutive Pro Bowls, and perhaps it was no coincidence that the Dolphins appeared in three consecutive Super Bowls during the same period.

Although he was dissatisfied with his playing time during the 1971 season, Morris made the most of his opportunities. He rushed for 315 yards at an average of 5.5 yards per carry and returned 423 kicks for an AFC-leading average of 28.2 yards. However, Miami lost 24-3 to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl VI. Morris had neither a run nor a catch in that game, but returned four kickoffs (22.5 yards on average).

During the 1972 and 1973 seasons, Morris emerged as the explosive running back he may have always been.