 Morris in 1959 | |||||||||||||
| No. 40, 20 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positions | Defensive back, Kicker | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born | (1931-11-01)November 1, 1931 White City, Kansas, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Died | April 27, 2022(2022-04-27) (aged 90) Redmond, Oregon, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight | 189 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| College | Oregon | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1956: 7th round, 84th overall pick | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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John Bradley Morris (November 1, 1931 – April 27, 2022) was anAmerican professionalfootball player who was adefensive back for four seasons in theNational Football League (NFL). He played for theLos Angeles Rams,Pittsburgh Steelers, andMinnesota Vikings from 1958 to 1961, having earlier playedcollege football at theUniversity of Oregon.
Morris was born inWhite City, Kansas, on November 1, 1931.[1] He was raised inMedford, Oregon, and attendedMedford High School.[1][2] There, he was a standoutAmerican football player andtrack and field athlete, winning three state titles inhurdling.[2] After graduating in 1950, Morris studied at theUniversity of Oregon.[3] He joined theUS Air Force after completing hisfreshman year and consequently served in theKorean War.[2] Upon his return from military service, he established anOregon Ducks record with 68 points in a single season and started his school-record 23 straight successfulconversions.[2][4] He then led the team with 519rushing yards the following year,[2][4] and became co-captain of the team by hissenior year.[4][5] At the time of his graduation, he was ranked third all-time at Oregon in points scored (130) and rushing yards (1,631).[2][4] Morris was drafted by theLos Angeles Rams in the seventh round (84th overall selection) of the1956 NFL draft.[1]
Morris made his NFL debut with the Rams on September 28, 1958, at the age of 26, in a 30–27 loss against the Cleveland Browns.[6] During his rookie season, he finished second in the league ininterceptions returned for touchdown (1), fourth in interception return yards (152), and seventh in interceptions (6), longest interception return (44 yards), and defensive touchdowns (1).[1] He also led the franchise in interceptions that year.[3] After just under three seasons with the franchise, he joined thePittsburgh Steelers midway through the1960 season. He then joined the newly establishedMinnesota Vikingsthe following year and recorded the third-longest interception return in the NFL (65 yards).[1]
Morris was part of the inaugural class inducted into Medford's Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. Twenty years later, he was enshrined in the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame,[4] having earlier been honored as part of the 1957 Ducks football team when they were inducted in 1994.[2]
Morris was married to Lois until his death. Together, they had four children: Tricia, Dana, Jolie, and Carl.[7]
Morris showed signs ofchronic traumatic encephalopathy during his later years.[2] He died on April 27, 2022, at his home inRedmond, Oregon. He was 90, and suffered fromAlzheimer's disease prior to his death.[2][3]