The Miami Dolphins community is mourning on Sunday.
One of the most iconic members in Dolphins history, Mercury Morris, passed away according to his son.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of of Eugene “Mercury” Morris, legendary Miami Dolphins running back an cherished member of the NFL family at the age of 77,” the social media post said.
Morris was a cornerstone on the Dolphins 1972 undefeated team and played a key role in winning two Super Bowls for the organization.
During the 1972 and 1973 seasons, Morris earned Super Bowl rings in Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl VIII and was selected for the Pro Bowl in both years. In 1972, he shared the halfback position, participating in a few less plays but having more carries as a running back. He ran for exactly 1,000 yds on 190 carries in 1972, becoming, with teammate Larry Csonka, the first 1,000-yard tandem in NFL history. Morris was first thought to have finished with 991 yards but the Dolphins’ management asked the league to examine a play in which Morris fumbled a lateral so he was awarded the nine yards previously recorded as lost on the play, giving him 1,000 yards for the season. That year, Morris also led the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns and his 5.3 yard per carry average was third in the NFL.
Mercury Morris Set Several Miami Dolphins Records
The NFL became the rushing attempts leader for the entire league for 1972. Morris became the Dolphins all-time rushing leader in 1973. He was also the kickoff return leader for the NFL in 1969.
Morris excelled in several playoff games leading up to Miami’s two Super Bowl victories. In 1972, he led the Dolphins in rushing in both the divisional playoff game against Cleveland and the AFC Championship Game against Pittsburgh with 72 yards and 76 yards respectively. In 1973, he led the Dolphins in rushing for the divisional playoff game against Cincinnati with 106 yards and added 86 more rushing yards in the AFC Championship Game against Oakland.
It’s safe to say the Dolphins lost a true legend on Sunday,
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