Dennis Morgan (American football)

Dennis Morgan (June 26, 1952 – October 25, 2015) was an American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Western Illinois University.

Dennis Morgan
No. 37, 42
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born:(1952-06-26)June 26, 1952
White Plains, New York, U.S.
Died:October 25, 2015(2015-10-25) (aged 63)
East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:White Plains Senior (NY)
College:Western Illinois
NFL Draft:1974 / Round: 10 / Pick: 255
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:17
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Morgan, grew up in White Plains, New York and attended White Plains Senior High School. He was a part of the 1969 undefeated football team.

He also lettered in track and baseball. He set the high school national record for the indoor 40-yard dash at 4.3 seconds.[1]

College career

Morgan attended Bradley University, where he was named the starter at running back as a freshman.[2] The next year, he transferred to Western Illinois University after Bradley dropped its football program.[3] He played running back and returned kickoffs for three seasons for Western Illinois.

As a junior, he averaged more than 30 yards per kickoff return. As a senior, he averaged almost 20 yards per punt return. He finished his college career with 1,254 rushing yards and a 4.7-yard average per carry. He received honorable-mention NAIA All-American honors in 1972.[4]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Morgan was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the tenth round (255th overall) of the 1974 NFL Draft. Known as "Strawberry" due to his red hair,[5] he started off playing on special teams.

As a rookie, he tied the longest punt return in NFL history with a 98-yard touchdown (also a franchise record) against the St. Louis Cardinals.[6][7] That season, he finished third in the NFL in punt return average with 15.1 yards and led the team in both punt return yards (287) and kickoff return yards (823).

Morgan was waived on August 4, 1975.[8]

Philadelphia Eagles

On August 6, 1975, Morgan was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Eagles.[9] He played in four games, registering 170 yards (24.3 average) on kickoff returns and 60 yards (7.5 average) on punt returns. He was released on October 17.[10]

Personal life

Morgan served in the United States Army after football. He died on October 25, 2015, after suffering a heart attack while attending the New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys game at MetLife Stadium.[11]

References
  1. "Dennis Morgan Orbituary". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  2. "Hoopin' and hollerin' time at Bradley". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  3. "Dennis Morgan, White Plains football star of the 1960s, dies at 63". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  4. "Leatherneck Tradition" (PDF). 9 August 2007. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  5. Buchanan, W.T.B.; Stainkamp, S.D.; Staubach, R. (2006). Glory Days: Life with the Dallas Cowboys, 1973-1998. Taylor Trade Publishing. p. 164. ISBN 9781461626114. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  6. "Cards Trip Dallas". Herald-Journal. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  7. "Cunningham rumbles as Eagles beat Pats". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  8. "Rams Waive Josephson". The Evening Independent. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  9. "Eagles claim Morgan of Dallas". The Free Lance-Star. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  10. "KU's Sutton Released By Philadelphia Club". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  11. "Former Dallas Cowboys player dies after heart attack at Cowboys game". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
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