The Miami Dolphins have lost another member of their 1970s Super Bowl team.
Running back Mercury Morris has died at the age of 77, his son GhostWridah posted on social media on Sunday morning.
Last night, my father @MercuryMorris22 deceased. 💔🐬🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/2QARscMcOg
— GhostWridah (@GhostWridah) 22 September 2024
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Eugene “Mercury” Morris, legendary running back for the Miami Dolphins and valued member of the NFL family, at the age of 77,” wrote GhostWridah, a Miami-based musician born Troy-Jeffery Morris. “Off the field, Mercury was a devoted father, a loving brother, a loyal friend and a pillar of the community. His presence extended far beyond football as he touched the lives of many during his time in Miami.”
Morris leaves behind his children Geno, Maceo, Tiffany, Troy and Elliott, as well as his siblings Cynthia, Valerie and Janice.
Morris played for the Dolphins from 1969 to 1975 after coming out of West Texas A&M as a third-round pick.
While his role was initially limited primarily to kick returns, he became a member of perhaps the best running back trio in NFL history, along with Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. The group was actually the subject of an NFL Films documentary called “The Perfect Backfield.”
During the Dolphins’ perfect season in 1972—to date the only perfect season ever recorded in the NFL—Morris ran for exactly 1,000 yards, making the Dolphins, along with Csonka, the first team ever to have two 1,000-yard runners.
Morris was selected to the Pro Bowl three times (1971-73). He led the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 12 in 1972 and had three career kickoff returns for touchdowns, one in each of his first three seasons, including a team-record 105 yards as a rookie in 1969.
Morris finished his NFL career with one season with the San Diego Chargers after being traded for a fourth-round pick, but his heart was always with the Dolphins.
