Jon Morris
Encyclopedia
Jon Morris is a former American college and professional football
player. At Gonzaga College High School
in Washington, DC, he was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball. After Gonzaga he played center and linebacker for three seasons at the College of the Holy Cross
. He was the Washington Daily News's Athlete of the Year in 1960 and Holy Cross Varsity Club Athlete of the Year and Lineman of the Year in 1963. He was selected All-East and All-America
in his senior year, played in the College All-Star Game and captained the Senior Bowl
.
He was inducted into the Holy Cross Hall of Fame in 1973. In 1983 Jon was an inaugural inductee of the Gonzaga College High School Athletic Hall of Fame, joined in 1991 by his brother Will who quarterbacked Gonzaga and at the University of Maryland as well serving as Gonzaga Head Football Coach from '75 to '78.
The Green Bay Packers
, coached by Vince Lombardi, picked Morris as their number two draft choice, however Morris chose to go with the Boston Patriots instead and he was signed on as their third pick. Morris was the Patriots' team Rookie of the Year in 1964, and their "Unsung Hero" in 1965. He was an AFL All-Star
six times, 1964 through 1969, and was an AFC Pro Bowl Center in 1970; he was the first Patriots player to be selected for the AFC Pro Bowl. He is 2nd to John Hannah for the most appearances by a Patriot player in a League All Star Game or Pro Bowl Game. Morris was named to the second team, All-Time All-AFL
, and to the fan-selected Boston Patriots All-1960s Team. He played 128 games for the Patriots, the eighth best individual record in club history. Morris played three years (1975–1977) with the Detroit Lions, elected by Lions teammates as their "Offensive Player of the Year" in 1975. He played his fifteenth and final professional season with the Chicago Bears in 1978.
Morris recovered several fumbles during his career. The first was a fumble by running back Ron Burton
in the Boston Patriots' 24-7 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Fenway Park
on October 23, 1964. In 1966, he recovered a fumble by running back Larry Garron
in the Patriots' 27-27 tie with the Kansas City Chiefs at Municipal Stadium
on November 20. He also recovered a fumble by fullback Jim Nance
in the Patriots' 16-0 loss to the Houston Oilers at Fenway Park on October 13, 1968.
Morris wore #56 for the Patriots, as did Pro Football Hall of Fame LB Andre Tippett
.
After his playing career, Morris worked as the color commentator on Patriots radio broadcasts from 1979 to 1987, followed by color analysis of NFL games for NBC
television.
In 2011, Jon Morris was selected by a senior selection committee as a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. At Gonzaga College High School
Gonzaga College High School
Gonzaga College High School is a Jesuit high school for boys located in Washington, D.C. The school is named in honor of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, an Italian saint from the 16th century...
in Washington, DC, he was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball. After Gonzaga he played center and linebacker for three seasons at the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
. He was the Washington Daily News's Athlete of the Year in 1960 and Holy Cross Varsity Club Athlete of the Year and Lineman of the Year in 1963. He was selected All-East and All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
in his senior year, played in the College All-Star Game and captained the Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
.
He was inducted into the Holy Cross Hall of Fame in 1973. In 1983 Jon was an inaugural inductee of the Gonzaga College High School Athletic Hall of Fame, joined in 1991 by his brother Will who quarterbacked Gonzaga and at the University of Maryland as well serving as Gonzaga Head Football Coach from '75 to '78.
The Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, coached by Vince Lombardi, picked Morris as their number two draft choice, however Morris chose to go with the Boston Patriots instead and he was signed on as their third pick. Morris was the Patriots' team Rookie of the Year in 1964, and their "Unsung Hero" in 1965. He was an AFL All-Star
American Football League All-Star games
-All-League Teams:The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
six times, 1964 through 1969, and was an AFC Pro Bowl Center in 1970; he was the first Patriots player to be selected for the AFC Pro Bowl. He is 2nd to John Hannah for the most appearances by a Patriot player in a League All Star Game or Pro Bowl Game. Morris was named to the second team, All-Time All-AFL
American Football League All-Time Team
The American Football League All- Time Team was selected on January 14, 1970. The first and second teams would be determined by a panel of members of the AFL's Hall of Fame Board of Selectors: Since the First team included two halfbacks, rather than a halfback and a fullback, Cookie Gilchrist, a...
, and to the fan-selected Boston Patriots All-1960s Team. He played 128 games for the Patriots, the eighth best individual record in club history. Morris played three years (1975–1977) with the Detroit Lions, elected by Lions teammates as their "Offensive Player of the Year" in 1975. He played his fifteenth and final professional season with the Chicago Bears in 1978.
Morris recovered several fumbles during his career. The first was a fumble by running back Ron Burton
Ron Burton
Ronald E. "Ron" Burton became a college All-American running back at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, a member of the Northwestern Hall of Fame, and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame....
in the Boston Patriots' 24-7 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
on October 23, 1964. In 1966, he recovered a fumble by running back Larry Garron
Larry Garron
Larry Garron is an American former collegiate and Professional Football player. A fullback, he played college football at Western Illinois University, and played professionally in the American Football League for the Boston Patriots from 1960 through 1968. He holds the team record run of 85 yards...
in the Patriots' 27-27 tie with the Kansas City Chiefs at Municipal Stadium
Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)
Kansas City Municipal Stadium was a baseball and football stadium that formerly stood in Kansas City, Missouri. It hosted the minor league Kansas City Blues of the American Association from 1923 to 1954 and the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues during the same period...
on November 20. He also recovered a fumble by fullback Jim Nance
Jim Nance
James Solomon "Big Jim" Nance was an American collegiate and Professional Football fullback with the Boston Patriots during their days in the American Football League...
in the Patriots' 16-0 loss to the Houston Oilers at Fenway Park on October 13, 1968.
Morris wore #56 for the Patriots, as did Pro Football Hall of Fame LB Andre Tippett
Andre Tippett
Andre Bernard Tippett is a former American football linebacker who played for the New England Patriots of the NFL. Currently, he is the Patriots' Executive Director of Community Affairs. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.-Personal life:Tippett was born in Birmingham,...
.
After his playing career, Morris worked as the color commentator on Patriots radio broadcasts from 1979 to 1987, followed by color analysis of NFL games for NBC
NFL on NBC
NFL on NBC is the brand given to NBC Sports coverage of National Football League games until 1998, when NBC lost the NFL American Football Conference rights to CBS...
television.
In 2011, Jon Morris was selected by a senior selection committee as a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame.