Meet The WEIRDEST Player In NFL History...

[@bjs301]

Where did you get the idea he "was never a very good player"? The guy was tough as hell and had a hell of a career. All of us old guys remember him, and not as a loser or a mediocre player. The guys he played behind, YA Tittle, Bob Griese and Johnny Unitas, are all in the Hall of Fame.

[@LeDardeursPalace]

Ok so, if someone is not a very good player he is a loser or mediocre? What happened to being just good or decent?

[@bjs301]

@@LeDardeursPalace There's nothing wrong with being "just good or decent", but so what? The point of the video was that he wasn't very good, and he was.

[@realwiggles]

@@bjs301 no it wasn’t? The video was about how weird his career was. Think of how crazy people were going this year over cooper rush winning 4 games as a backup. Now imagine instead of those 4 games, he and the cowboys went undefeated and made it to the Super Bowl with Rush being awarded league MVP. Now imagine he did the same thing years later while being one of the oldest active players. That would be pretty weird, no?the video is overwhelmingly positive in favor of Earl. Can you point out where in the video they dunk of Earl? But also, how was he simultaneously “very good” while being a journeyman backup. The league wasn’t exactly overflowing with QB talent. He would’ve been starting for some team if he really was “very good”. Like the other guy said though, this doesn’t mean he’s a complete scrub. After-all, he managed to stay in the league for a really long time and obviously had the potential to play like an MVP when everything lined up just right. There are hundreds of slots that exist on the spectrum between “Absolute scrub” and “GOAT”. Also, what do the people he backed up have to do with anything. It’s not like he’s just inherently better because the teams first string QB happened to be a future hall of famer. That’s like saying Brock Osweiller was actually a stud because he backed up Peyton Manning.

[@bjs301]

@@realwiggles If you are really not capable of picking up the disdain the narrator has for Morrall, he actually states at about 5:10 that "he was never a very good player to begin with". That's an exact quote. And "journeyman backup" was the narrator's term, not an accurate description of his career. He had a number of very good years, including with the Lions and the Giants. I can't believe you were actually around back then. Because if you were, you'd either have been a fan or one of the many guys (like me) who never looked forward to a game against his team as an expected walk over. He had a lot of injuries, but when healthy he was never easy to beat. The point of mentioning the guys he played behind were all great quarterbacks is that the narrator suggested that a better player would have been starting. But then you can't interpret "he was never a very good player", so I wouldn't expect you to understand that.

[@realwiggles]

@@bjs301 idk if you’re confusing me for someone else but I never said anything about whether or not OP hated the dude, what I said was that obviously the entire point of the video wasn’t just to call him weird or whatever, it was about about how strange his career was. A big part of that was his level of play when he had to take over teams after their HOF quarterbacks got hurt. I don’t think one single line where he says “not very good”, which is barely an insult, means he was shitting on him for the entire video. You’re way too butthurt over such a mild comment lol. I guess he should’ve said “wasn’t very good outside of a few good seasons”. What would you call a quarterback that was primarily a backup on 6 different NFL teams? That’s like a quarter of the league back then. He only played 1 or 2 seasons for like 4 of them

[@rustyturner431]

Earl was harldy "weird", he was a great gentleman. After retiring, he owned a golf course in Ft Lauderdale and was always there willing to chat and told a good story. More than once, I got him to autograph footballs for charity aucitons, and he always got as many of the '72 Dolpins as he could find to sign them. Because that took some time, I know Earl spent more on shipping than I paid for the NFL balls, and asked if I could reimburse him. He would not hear of it.

[@LeDardeursPalace]

Judging by your first sentence, you clearly did not watch the video.

[@jamming8519]

It's just another bullshit title to get people to click on it!

[@dennistrull1475]

I agree, I really looked up to Earl as a kid. As a Colts fan. Only wished he had hit those two open guys in the end zone, in the first half. He threw short, and became interceptions. Those 14 points would have went a long way to help the Colts in SB III.

[@michaelamanek8908]

A great QB. Thanks for speaking out.

[@Zaghzackio]

He had a weird story he's not imying he was a weird person.

[@Fireyninjadog]

He quarterbacked 2 all time great teams in the 68 colts and 72 dolphins, both coached by the legendary Don shula, and was named 1st team all pro both times

[@zeppelinmexicano]

Coaching counts, culture counts, and he found a niche with Shula, who just happened to know how to coach him.

[@KippinCollars]

Anyone who loves football knows who Earl Morrall is.

[@MonteVanVleet]

Morrall was an excellent backup QB; Coach Shula had a knack for finding good backups for that position. Unitas played most of the second half of SB III, he had been on the bench that season due to tendinitis in his throwing elbow. Their defense that year was so strong they made a run with Johnny U. on the bench. Morrall did the same thing for Coach Shula in Miami, filling in for Bob Griese until he came back in for the playoffs. That was the Dolphins' undefeated season, if memory serves. Damn good for a backup "journeyman".

[@bryanrackard4063]

One of the nicest men you would ever meet should be your title. Guy was a Mayor of Davie , QB Coach for Testaverde, Kelly ,Kosar when they played at Miami , and owned a Golf course . I used to talk with him quit often and was just as nice as can be, and still sported flat top. RIP Mr. Morrall......

[@tomallen5837]

That's great. I didn't know he ran for mayor of Davie and won.

[@davidabney7700]

Earl Morrall was a gentleman first and foremost. His level of play at quarterback is rarely ever matched, let alone beat. Playing under 1950's and 60's NFL rules was a different world from 2022 NFL. What Earl accomplished at the Colts, and later at the Dolphins, was a Super Bowl win in SB # 5 and SB# 7. Anyone old enough to have been a NFL fan in 1968, that was aware of the strength and weakness of both 1968 SB teams (Colts/Jets) knew that Baltimore wasn't made a 100-point favorite for kicks! The bookies made the Colts a solid 16-point favorite and few people took those points. The game itself should have been a blowout for the Colts. Too strong on defense and way too strong on offense with the MVP, Earl, quarterbacking. The old saying that anything can happen when 11 men line up against each other on the football field. Through a host of mistakes, dropped TD pass, wide open Orr in the Statue of Liberty Play, two key fumbles, 3 key interceptions, and all going against Baltimore doomed the Colts. If that game had been replayed the next day, Monday, there would have been a Jet beat-down of epic proportions!

[@hooville9059]

He was a gentleman, guest speaker at our football banquet and he awarded me with the top honor to attend a week long football camp being instructed by Pro players Terry Bradshaw QB, Ron Johnson RB, Eddie Bell WR and several others that were all top draft picks that we didn't think to much of as we would today. Terry was the last night speaker and he had us all in stitches never forget he was a jokester all the time. Receiving my award from Earl he spent time personally with me that I cherish, this was early 1971 and I was saddened by all his ups and downs as you described buy was so proud for him doing an outstanding job in the 1973 season for the Dolphins but disappointed being denied the Super Bowl start. Thanks fo the memories.

[@ronbelanger8812]

I find it interesting that, during the 1972 regular season, Morrall's Dolfins defeated every team he had previously played for.

[@troykilby5394]

That’s not true they did not beat the 49ers or the Lions that year Just beat the Colts and Giants

[@caverramos7581]

This is pretty cool, only nitpick is that you didnt mention that earl morral ended up winning the superbowl 5 for the colts

[@benthompson8913]

... and that he wasn't pulled from the lineup in SB VII, he was pulled during the AFC Championship game against..... the Pittsburgh Steelers.

[@SpidaMonkE92]

Also that Super Bowl 5 is the weirdest Super Bowl of all time, neither team played good and the Super Bowl MVP came from the losing team

[@nocategories3398]

I wouldn't really claim that one. Cowboys looked far better, but made enough mistakes to keep it close. Plus add that Dave manders fell on the ball at the colts one and the refs gave it to the colts. Video is clear enough on a play that wouldve won the game. But yeah, probably relevant to mention he has a ring.

[@grfxlot09]

Another nitpick. 72 Dolphins didn't go 16-0. 14-0 in the shorter regular season at that time. Then 2 playoff victories and the SB for a total of 17-0. The irony is, if Garo Y had made the late FG, the score of the game might also have been 17-0. Instead, bad snap failed kick and the Redskins made it 14-7.

[@cojaysea]

In Super Bowl 5 Johnny Unitas was the QB

[@tadroid3858]

Great story! I'm old enough to remember Earl Morrall, and he really seemed to be a regular guy. I didn't know all the back story. I just remember him playing and being interviewed. George Blanda is another crazy story.

[@shantheman6879]

God as my witness,it is a lifelong dedication of mine to get this dude in the Hall of Fame!!He was involved in two great super bowl era games and was NFL MVP. Considering some of the other inductees as of late, this man belongs in the hall no matter what your take is. Am I weird for admiring this guy? Greatest backup qb of all time at the very least.

[@berean77]

Just another comment, about a player who this guy says was "never any good". Look at his career stats vs. Joe Namath: Record as a starting QB: Namath 62-63-4 Morrall 63-36-3 Completion percentage: Namath 50.1% Morrall 51.3% Yards per attempt: Namath 7.4 Morrall 7.7 Total yards passing: Namath 27,663 Morrall 20,809 TDs/Interceptions: Namath 173/220 Morrall 161/148 Don't get me wrong, I loved Joe Namath (saw him play). But aside from the total career yardage, Morrall has him beat. Joe threw a lot more - and he paid for it with the interceptions. It was a different game then, no QB would last with these completion percentages today. NFL professionals like Don Shula knew what they had in a guy like Earl Morrall. The guy who made this video has absolutely no clue.

[@mikewalters3048]

Morrall was a case of "right person in the right spot". He had an odd career arc but other have too. I think of George Blanda, for example. Vinny Testaverde would be another as would Warren Moon.

[@rwaitt14153]

Jeff Hostetler, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Steve Deberg too.

[@vince065us.2]

What is so weird about Earl?.He had his share of ups and downs.It's about perseverance.He Should be in the HOF.

[@user-cl6dz7tw4o]

He went to the same high school as my mom. He was a few years older. My mom used to watch him play at Muskegon High School. His brother attended our church. I still have his card from his last season in 76 when I began collecting cards.

[@bigdogpete43]

All you could say about Earl Morrall was that he was the consummate professional-a solid player and a leader on the field. Tough as nails, he got the job done.

[@cordellsenior9935]

Wonderful job putting this together. I enjoyed this (especially the voice work) and learned a lot more about "ol Earl. That IS a weirdly fantastic career. I would love to lay clam to those nutty ups and downs (but give me modern day money please). What a quiet warrior.

[@eddieballgame]

Don't forget, Morrall replaced Unitas (due to an injury) in Super Bowl 5 to win vs the Cowboys.

[@thomaskorner762]

Let me agree with Rusty. Don Shula and Earl Morrall are the reason I am a Dolphins fan even though I grew up in the shadows of New York City. I was in Miami on business and the boss told me to go find a golf course we could play. Unbeknownst to me I wandered into Earl's course. He was sitting at the bar reading the paper and when he turned around I was stunned to find him there. I stupidly said "Hey your Earl Morrall". He laughed and we had a nice conversation about 69 with the Colts and 71 - 72 with the Dolphs. Truly a great gentleman, not weird at all.

[@1999glock]

Don Shula "I coached 3 Hall of Famers, Johnny Unitas, Bob Greise and Dan Marino. But the number 1 guy in my personal hall of fame will always be Earl Morrall". Graetest "backup" QB in NFL history. Overall W-L record as a starter from 1968 to 1976, 35-5, including a 13--1 rcord in 1968 and a 9-0 record in 1972. Not bad.

[@nasis18]

His career win-loss ratio is like 63-39. Won 3 Superbowls, won a mvp, and won a come back player award. If he had put it all together consistently, we could have been talking about one of the greatest QBS ever. He still had a decent career though.

[@stephenh5944]

Morral was the best journyman QB ever, better than DeBerg, Testeverde, Flutie and Fitzpatrick.

[@nasis18]

@@stephenh5944 ya know, it's a huge what if? It seems like Shula knew how to coach him, and get the best out of him. Course, Shula is one of the best, if not the best coache ever. If he had put together a few more solid seasons, he'd probably be a HOFer.

[@Goaty9116]

People only remember greasie in 72 but morall was an All pro that year

[@flibbidyx2]

I've always loved the Earl Morrall story. It's sad he's been so forgotten.

[@rg20322]

Miami achievement is so overrated with the "Perfect" season when you have a CAP league today. Love Earl Morrall though!!! :)

[@paysonfox88]

I knew very well about Earl... He was a very long career backup. A backup quarterback, who did a few other things that the team needed. He was a starter for a few years, but mostly backed up Johnny Unitas. And Earl was one heck of a player when he needed to be.

[@tomallen5837]

Lol, I'm a lifelong Dolphins fan. I was delighted to see his face on the thumbnail before clicking on your video. Already knew. Thank you for this coverage. Love the soundtrack. .....Wha wha,waaaaa!

[@Joseph-cu8lg]

It's amazing how different the NFL was. Imagine a QB horrified by going from Detroit to Pittsburgh!!

[@johnirby493]

Back then, Pittsburg was the worst team in the NFL. They went over 40 years before they won anything.

[@timfortune9]

In the 1950's, the two most dominant teams in the NFL were...the Lions and the Browns. How things have changed.

[@shawnj1966]

@@johnirby493, I'm pretty sure that's his point. The Steelers were awful and Detroit wasn't, but now the Steelers aren't awful and Detroit is.

[@shawnj1966]

It worked out for, Charlie Batch, though! A Pittsburgh native! Granted, he was a backup. But a very solid backup!

[@robjoenz82]

The man went 23 - 1 coming off the bench for two Hall Of Fame QB's. Imagine if someone besides Shula had stuck with him.

[@SideSaddleSports]

I had a cd that recapped every super bowl up until 2005 as a kid so I’ve been the only person that knew about Earl for years until now😂

[@mckman6700]

Gary Glick was DB not a punter. 52 career starts 14 int 1 fumble return for a td

[@johnblaesel5493]

Earl Moral, best back-up quarterback ever!

[@mulvey0731]

People forget that Griese was hurt most of regular season in ‘72. The undefeated season with #1 offense was largely Morrall’s doing. In fact, when Griese came back in the playoffs, I kinda thought it was a mistake. What a team! What a season! It was a magical time in general.

[@cordellsenior9935]

I recognized that haircut. He sported one of the last flat tops. Won nearly all the games in the Dolphins undefeated season.

[@redirac6890]

As someone who grew up in Miami in the 70s, I can tell you that he was viewed as the savior of the 72 perfect season. He was replaced by Griese in the championship game against ... wait for it ... the Steelers who then started in the Super Bowl. Earl was the consummate TEAM player. Someone who stepped up and performed at the hardest time.

[@rl3026]

After leaving the Dolphins he joined Howard Schnellenberger at the University of Miami as quarterbacks coach

[@schmoop14]

And, did I miss that he entirely skipped Earl coming off the bench in Super Bowl V for a victorious Colts team? Oh, and Morrall was pulled during the 1972 AFC title game, not the ensuing Super Bowl, which Bob Griese started and finished. The road in front of the Dolphins 1994-2019 practice facility is named for Earl Morrall.

[@jimbowers5402]

I met him at the Orange Bowl in 73 before a game between the Dolphins and Bills. This was the year that OJ ran 2000 yards. Morrall had taken over from Bob Griese the year before when he broke his ankle., this was the undefeated season. Morrall signed my game program and said hello.

[@epitreture]

Great video, but you left out the fact that he played in relief of Johnny Unitas in Super Bowl V when the Colts won 16-13 over the Cowboys.

[@OmahaRiverDonkey]

Morrall was 63-36 through his career, so a winning QB even when you subtract out the Dolphins and Colts seasons, hardly "weird" that he had success. Gary Glick was the only defensive back ever drafted #1 in the NFL and had a decent career. Back then the punting was usually done by one of the better athletes on the team as a secondary duty, i.e. Sammy Baugh, Norm Van Brocklin, Max McGee, Boyd Dowler, Steve Spurrier, and yes, Earl Morrall, but no, not Gary Glick, who only kicked extra points for 2 years.

[@Methadone4Life]

Anyone that is a true NFL fan most definitely should know who Earl Morrall is! Yep, he was one tough man for sure and actually could manage a game and make throws when given a chance with a squad that had some talent and could protect him. Great video as he most definitely had a career path that we are unlikely to ever witness again. Playing to 40 back then would be like todays player sticking around and playing to age 50 or 55, especially considering all the horrid injuries he incurred along the way! Props to Earl, say what you will, but the man was one tough dude!!!

[@thepilot9796]

Great guy, I was an alterboy at BTS in Virgina Gardens and served him Communion at 0800 mass during the season plus numerous other famous Dolphins players! Very friendly as well.....

[@stevebuchanan4829]

One of the greatest NFL you tube videos of all time.

[@terireyes1127]

Earl's career has helped me win many trivia games, I knew a lot because he was my cousin. I would watch him play on TV with my dad on sundays.

[@JonasGrumby-OO]

The NFL should give an award every year for the top back-up who steps in and saves the day and call it the Earl Morrall Award. The dude was clutch $

[@hiataki7]

Just to fill in a little gap in the info here, Shula had actually pulled Morrall midway in the AFC championship game against Pittsburgh, before Super Bowl VII. Bob Griese took over from there. Your video reminded me of something the great John Facenda said about Morrall during one of his classic narrations, referencing his 1968 Colt Season "He seemed to regain skills he was thought to have lost, he seemed to acquire skills he was never thought to have had".

[@lazysob2328]

Sometimes the difference between being a backup and a great player is just the team and coach you have. Not a popular opinion I know, but look at Len Dawson, Bret Favre, Johnny Unitas, Kurt Warner. Sounds strange, but sometimes HCs shouldn’t be HCs and teams just have too many deficiencies in other areas for players like Morrel to succeed .

[@OneLastHitB4IGo]

I got his autograph when he was with Detroit at a players meet & greet. Super nice guy. Detroit could sure use him now.

[@MultiEviscerator]

He obviously was a great athlete winning state championships in HS in both football and baseball, championships in college, and championships in the pros. What athlete wouldn't be happy with such a career.

[@CLM1987]

He looks like he scored four touchdowns in one game for Polk High

[@vicepresidentmikepence889]

HOW IN THE WORLD do you mention Earl Morrall's career and not mention Super Bowl 5????? Unitas started Super bowl 5, got injured, and Morrall came in with Dallas leading Baltimore, and won the Super bowl

[@bjs301]

Because it doesn't fit his bullshit narrative. He actually says Morrall was never a very good player.

[@noelharris5488]

Dogged S.B.3

[@frogger1952]

The opposite of SB III, where he started and was lifted due to ineffectiveness and replaced Johnny Unitas. Colts did not score until about 3min to go, still the longest a team had been shutout in a Super Bowl game.

[@dennistrull1475]

Earl's story may make a better movie than Kurt Warner's. If they stuck to the story.

[@noelharris5488]

@@bjs301 3Picks in SB 3.The 1st bet I ever made .1--12--69 Was all of 13.Knew the Jets would bend but not break.

[@chrispeterson4463]

This is really more about the oddity of how NFL teams operated in the 50’s and 60’s than anything to do with the player. Back before the NFL became a big business and all the unique fun progressively died.

[@richs7362]

Lived in Florida when he was there. Saw him play many times. One thing I remember is he really disliked training camp and would find a way to usually miss it. I seem to remember he always had a year to year contract and would negotiate until training camp was just about over before signing! Didn't seem to effect his play that much either. Remember thinking how funny it was.

[@richardgreene6810]

I heard Buoniconti was pretty bad at that sort of thing too. Manny Fernandez said he never ever saw the guy in the weight room. And Don Strock loved his cigarettes.

[@SagansWar]

Nice breakdown. I thought you would mentioned how he came into Super Bowl V and helped the Colts win the Super Bowl.

[@scottvanderzel8839]

My father Roger Vanderzel grew up next to him and played high school sports at Muskegon high school. Great guy

[@maxpuppy96]

Earl Morrall could flat out play quaterback.

[@ronlinfonte2651]

And he was the target of many accusations of him dumping the Super Bowl lll loss to the Jets. As brilliant as he played that year, he was horrible in the SB, over throwing wide open receivers and even his own team mates suspected something didn’t smell right. The Colts owner at that time was a notorious gambler and the suspicion was he bet against the Colts and paid Morrel to dump the game .

[@phillc1073]

HE WAS A JOURNEYMAN QB....HAD SOME GOOD SKILLS AND WAS A GOOD LEADER...I THINK HE WAS A GIANT FOR A FEW YEARS...

[@schmoop14]

Listening to this commentary I could hear “I’m a young guy who knows a little something about NFL history before I was born, but not a really whole lot.” I mean, maybe it’s my age, but I’ve known my whole life that Earl Morrall was the QB in Super Bowl III. Then again, many casual fans his age don’t realize the Colts were once in Baltimore… (But, kid, it wasn’t the conference championship the Colts won by 34-0 - it was the NFL title during the NFL-AFL era).

[@sargeast1629]

Morrall was possibly the best backup QB the league has ever seen. Late in his career he could excel in the regular season and playoffs, but for some reason he would choke in a championship game. While Namath gets the credit for Super Bowl III, Morrall's turnovers and missing wide-open receivers cost the Colts the game. He was already stressing out in the AFC Championship Game in 1972 when they barely beat a offense-less Steeler team, and was on a glide-path for another Super Bowl debacle before Shula named Greise the starter.

[@jimsaunders4136]

Earl Morral's Sporting Goods, on Grand River in Detroit, where we used to buy all our hockey sticks!

[@thelakeman5207]

Morrall stunk up the field when he played for the Giants because, as usual, they had no offensive line to protect him. Got traded to the Colts and looked like a super star the next year!

[@haljones246]

Every bad NY team in any sport needs a scapegoat because NY fans cannot comprehend that the whole team was just crappy. Its just a New York thing! Tom Brady nor any other QB could have succeeded with that O line. Wow, they were terrible and the league enjoyed every minute of it.

[@scootymcfluffybutt3765]

There have been a lot of great QB's who have been relegated to back-up/journeyman status, only to emerge triumphant in their latter years (I'm looking at you Kurt Warner).

[@billywoods9192]

Rich Gannon.

[@brennencouch8980]

Love your vids. Keep up the good work.

[@jjw56]

Okey, great video but neglected to mention that he took over for an injured Unitas in SB5 to lead Colts to victory over cowboys. Please check the careers: marlon briscoe, John Henry Johnson and Preston Pearson

[@josephippolito3788]

Fun fact: I have an Earl Morrall Colts jersey one of my housemates bought me. I always mention him because of Sporcle quizzes so he just got me it.

[@JSaints87]

Wow, that's crazy. Not bad for a guy who has 3 SB rings, a league's MVP & a Comeback Player of the Year.

[@TheMidnightGhostg0000]

Man Morral is indeed a scary player

[@billphil8235]

Earl was a great man. Came to our football banquets Pompano Beach Fl Early 70's

[@davidlitsey5511]

Earl was great! I grow up in Michigan watching him.

[@dynamlllilte4230]

Another amazing video!

[@zooba1974]

Awesome video and very funny!!!!

[@jeffmyers8456]

I saw him play many times...once in person. He was a great QB!!!!

[@ilackedtheheart]

7:18 That's some crazy Fitzmagic energy.

[@iyaiya438]

He was signing autographs at LaFres Ford in Glendale, NYC. Nobody cared or was that impressed. Next year he was league MVP.

[@hoponpop3330]

I remember him with Steeler’s he wasn’t bad, but Bobby Layne was a legendary player

[@jacksports7]

Personally, I think Terrelle Pryor Sr. had the weirdest career and life ever. Just look it up

[@lewis9702]

Baseball's not boring!

[@greenbeagle13]

Loved this guy. He played in the NFL when it wasn't so soft.

[@tod3msn]

You are giving your viewers/fans the wrong impression of Earl Morrall as if he was some kinky creepy wierdo when he was very straightforward and the ideal professional back-up. If you want to understand Earl, realize he is a player sort of like Nick Folks of the Eagles. Except Nick won the Superbowl as a backup and Earl lost to the Jets. Both QB's were solid players and got along great with their fellow QB's on their teams with Johnny Unitas for Earl and Carson Went for Nick. Earl lost the Super Bowl because Weeb Eubank of the Jets schemed the Colts well and outsmarted them but Earl was the ultimate teammate and a stellar player.

[@ellisblom339]

I saw him play, as well as all those Super Bowls. If Unitas was able to play the entire Super Bowl 3, I believe they would have won.

[@davevogelar9965]

This guy was a very good quarterback very underrated

[@davevogelar9965]

He was responsible for Miami's perfect season

[@petemullen6977]

Did I miss mention of his tenure with the Lions where he executed the most incredible game winning pass ever against The Colts?

[@jjw56]

Which is the same play he ran in SB3 but was intercepted just before the half. I contend because of what he did in Detroit earlier he was looking to throw that ball over the middle instead of deep down field to Orr. This time it bit him in the ass. I’m a self proclaimed NFL historian

[@samuelgarfinkel2479]

I listened to that game on the radio. The most unlikely come back win I ' ve ever seen. For a long suffering Lions fan of over 60 years an incredible high point. What a guy!

[@petemullen6977]

@@samuelgarfinkel2479 I read about the play in his book, which I got in the 1960s, maybe early 1970s. I lost track of the book, so I actually got another copy on eBay. (I suspect only his Mom and I actually bought multiple copies of his book.). Now it’s possible to find parts of that game on KZbin.

[@samuelgarfinkel2479]

Thank you, Pete. I'll have a look.

[@petemullen6977]

@@samuelgarfinkel2479 Look for “Detroit Stuns Baltimore (1960)”

[@wreckanchor]

You are so wrong about this guy never being a very good player. He was a warrior that had a habit of getting the job done when called on to do so.

[@idget600]

You failed to mention another player with a slightly longer career than Earl, and that would be George Balanda, who played for 26 years, retiring at 49 years old. In addition, not only was he a quarterback, but also kicked field goals and PATs in the same games! 1949 - 1975, 10 years with the Bears, 7 years with the Houston Oilers and 9 years with the Raiders. The NFL of old had many, many warriors who have unfortunately faded into the past, yet are just as deserving proper recognition for their storied careers as today's players!

[@AmbassadorScorpio]

Earl is in shula’s personal HOF BECAUSE Morrall is the true responsable for the perfect season of 72.

[@richardoney6324]

I met him once he sold my dad a big shear for his sheet metal shop in fort Myers Florida. Dad ended up taking us out for dinner that night.and don't forget his restaurant name perfect season. In Miami

[@williamdavis2824]

It's only weird if you didn't know. It's pretty common knowledge to us Gen Xers.

[@geraldritchey6382]

There's no need for the foul language.

[@joeknows3882]

Great topic 👏 👍 Good video

[@homerjones3490]

I saw him play in Yankee Stadium. I caught his passes LOL

[@alfonsecoppola5938]

this cant be real,damn homer jones,you are kidding.you were great.inventor of the touchdown spike.you were the reason to watch the giants then..

[@homerjones3490]

@@alfonsecoppola5938 I saw a couple of Morrall to Jones TDs when I was a very young kid at Yankee Stadium

[@JohnCunningham-sy5ug]

All of us Old School Michigan State guys remember Earl moral he was part of the 19 years of Spartan prominence in the Big 10 six national championships altogether Earl could play he didn't look fancy but he sure could play

[@kylethomas2993]

I always knew Earl had a great season in 1968 winning MVP as a Colts fan

[@astrobullivant5908]

@0:10, My boomer dad knew the man in the picture was Earl Morrall immediately. Super Bowl III was the first game he watched.

[@davidhickey1830]

Morrall had excellent seasons with Detroit in 1963 and the Giants in 1965

[@martinmasten4107]

I think the night ball was before 68. It was used when the lights were primitive. Also, Earl ended up ironically replacing Unitas as QB Unitas got injured in Super Bowl. Earl didn't play great but Morton played worse. He got to win a Super Bowl.

[@jamesoconnor3562]

He had a Sporting goods store in Detroit for many years. Like his career, it was for sale 3 or 4 times, off the market, bsck on . You get the picture.

[@MonteVanVleet]

The other Colts player that was a super-sub at QB who was NOT a QB was Tom Matte. Maybe you could do a clip on him...

[@robertallen8542]

Gary Glock also played defensive back. He had 14 interceptions in his career.

[@robertscheinost179]

Make no mistake, we old Dolfans know all about "Earl the Great" Just a guy that hung around, and around, and around. A Great Guy, too.

[@1983jblack]

Unitas wasn't out the entire '68 season. He did play against Cleveland which was the Colts' only loss in the reg. season. Shula played Griese in the Super Bowl because he was healthy and knew if he had the opportunity to play he would utilize him. Morrall was never to be the starting QB in Miami and while many scratch their heads, Shula likely didn't want to cause a QB controversy. If you look, he pulled Morrall in the AFC Championship against Pittsburgh and it was Griese who led Miami to the win

[@Chiefsfansince-qb1kt]

It might interest readers to know that MANY of the 1968 Baltimore Colts and thousands of Colts fans believe that Morrall was somehow involved in fixing Super Bowl 3 vs the Jets. In no way am I stating that Joe Namath and the New York Jets didn't earn the victory for themselves (and for everyone in the AFL) fair and square. The Jets were a TREMENDOUS football team in the late 1960's! But things went on in that game (Super Bowl 3) that seemed very inconsistent with the way the Colts played as a team that entire season. They were 13-1, beat Cleveland convincingly in the NFL Championship game and then flopped in the Super Bowl? When many in football believed them to be one of the greatest teams of all time? Four interceptions off passes thrown by Morrall (one where the ball bounced off a shoulder pad of one of his receivers into the arms of a NY D-back) and a PAINFULLY obvious miss of a wide-open Jimmy Orr off a flea-flicker play executed to perfection earlier in the season, but somehow NOT in the Super Bowl. As a long-time AFL fan I want to believe that the AFL Jets won it fair and square as I wrote above. But for those interested, videos are available here on KZbin where testimonials by Colts players along with a video-.-the Unauthorized History of the NFL-.- where people can gain a better understanding of who the forces behind the scenes were, who was involved in ownership of some of these NFL teams at that time and their predilections, and what the point spread was for Super Bowl 3. There is also a belief that Pete Rozelle, then-NFL Commissioner who was hired by the Colts owner (back when this same owner owned the LA Rams) was either complicit in the scheme or turned a blind eye to the action as a favor to his former boss. The elements for support of these notions are all available through video here on KZbin. You decide.

[@robparadise6099]

Baloney

[@Chiefsfansince-qb1kt]

@@robparadise6099 You have a right to believe what you want Rob, but there are an enormous number of people who feel there is adequate evidence to support this notion. Personally, as a long time AFL fan, I was ELATED that the Jets won the game. But sports gambling was big during the 1950's, 60's, 70's and 80's and key people (owners, players) were not only accessible, but were susceptible to this kind of temptation/predilection. We'll agree to disagree.

[@robparadise6099]

FACT 1 = Jets defense and offensive running game dominated in '68. Oakland, Houston and your Chiefs were near the level of Baltimore and the Jets handled them. FACT 2 = (one where the ball bounced off a shoulder pad of one of his receivers into the arms of a NY D-back) was FIRST tipped by linebacker #62 Al Atkinson BEFORE it hit Tom Mitchells shoulder pad. FACT 3 = You could easily argue a conspiracy theory for your '69 Chiefs beating a dominant '69 Vikings teams in SB4 FACT 4 = I saw in person the 1970 Chiefs lose the last game of the season and as a result not even qualify for the playoffs off of a Super Bowl year (with a healthy Len Dawson vs. '69 knee injury). As the saying goes On Any Given Sunday.....

[@Chiefsfansince-qb1kt]

@@robparadise6099 Again, we'll agree to disagree.#1, Not saying the Jets weren't worthy of being a Super Bowl Champion. They beat the Chiefs in KC that season 20-19 as Namath and Maynard hooked up for the play of the day. They were a great team offensively and defensively. They proved it in AFL competition. #2, I forgot about Atkinson's tip of the Morrall pass that hit the Colts player's shoulder pad, but I don't count that interception as one that could be questioned with regard to intent. #3. Conspiracy theory for Super Bowl 4? Who would've been the player(s) or Coach on the Vikings who would've committed the intentionally egregious errors in that game in order to sway the score in favor of the Chiefs? Though several of the National News Networks released a story about certain members of pro football being involved in a gambling bust (including Chiefs QB Len Dawson) that's about as close to a conspiracy theory for that particular game as you were going to get. #4. In reference to your assertion that the 1970 Chiefs losing the last game of their season which disqualified them from playoff contention, the 1970 Chiefs were pretty much a patchwork team from mid-season to the end due to the accumulation of injuries to key personnel. The Super Bowl season of 1969 where they endured a lengthy playoff schedule, was proceeded by another taxing season where they went 12-2-0 and then lost to the Raiders 41-6 in the playoffs. That season was proceeded by an injury-filled 9-5 season in 1967 which was proceeded by a 11-2-1 season in 1966 where they played the Packers in Super Bowl-1. By 1970 the Chiefs were an aging team and because of Hank Stram's loyalty to his group, he was slow to start to re-tool or rebuild the team. They were mediocre for about 10-straight seasons after the 1971 season.

[@robparadise6099]

@@Chiefsfansince-qb1kt Not buying it however thats what makes conspiracy theories fun for many to debate (not me). As Joe Namath said after SB3 to a reporters question of what would happen if the Colts played the Jets again? Joe said, IF beer and nuts were IF'S and BUT'S, we have a hell of a party.