Mercury Morris

Mercury Morris: Dolphins running back, Super Bowl champion, and record-setting rusher.

Eugene Edward "Mercury" Morris (January 5, 1947 – September 21, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a running back and kick returner. He played for eight years, primarily for the Miami Dolphins in the American Football League (AFL) first as a rookie in 1969, then in the American Football Conference (AFC) after the merger with the National Football League (NFL).

Quick Facts

Position: Running back
Born: 5 January 1947
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: 21 September 2024
Place of death: Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
High school: Avonworth (Pittsburgh)
College: West Texas State
Draft year: 1969

Lore & Background

Morris played in three Super Bowls, winning twice and was selected to three Pro Bowls. In 1982, he was convicted of felony drug trafficking charges. After three and a half years in prison, he was released following a plea agreement in which he pled no contest to cocaine conspiracy charges. He died on September 21, 2024, at age 77.

Reader's Guide

Morris's career 5.1 yard per carry average was third all time among NFL players (1st among halfbacks), only behind fullbacks Jim Brown and Marion Motley. As of 2017, he ranked sixth all time behind Brown, Motley, running back Jamaal Charles, and quarterbacks Michael Vick and Randall Cunningham.

Did You Know?

Morris set collegiate records in 1968 for rushing yards in a single game (340), single season (1,571), and three-year career (3,388).
In 1972, he became, with Larry Csonka, the first 1,000-yard tandem in NFL history.
His 105-yard kickoff return in 1969 was the longest in the AFL that season.
Morris co-starred in the 1974 blaxploitation film The Black Six.