Jack Morton Explained

Jack Morton
Size:220
Birth Date:22 July 1922
Birth Place:East St. Louis, Illinois, U.S.
Death Place:Manteno, Illinois, U.S.
Player Years1:1942–1943
Player Team1:Missouri
Player Years2:1944
Player Team2:Purdue
Player Years3:1945
Player Team3:Chicago Bears
Player Years4:1946
Player Team4:Los Angeles Dons
Player Years5:1947
Player Team5:Buffalo Bills
Player Positions:End, defensive end, defensive back
Coach Years1:1953–1955
Coach Team1:DePauw (Line)
Coach Years2:1956
Coach Team2:Toledo
Coach Years3:1957–1958
Coach Team3:Green Bay Packers (DL)
Coach Years4:1959
Coach Team4:Marquette (Asst.)
Coach Years5:1961
Coach Team5:Grand Rapids Blazers
Coach Years6:1963
Coach Team6:Grand Rapids Blazers
Coach Years7:1964
Coach Team7:Joliet Explorers
Overall Record:1–7–1 (NCAA)
10–12–1 (UFL)
Championships:1961 United Football League championship
Awards:

John Joseph Morton (July 22, 1922 – December 17, 1983) was an American football player and coach. He played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Chicago Bears in 1945 and in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) with the Los Angeles Dons in 1946 and the Buffalo Bills in 1947. Morton was the head football coach at the University of Toledo for one season, in 1956, compiling a record of 1–7–1.

Playing career

Morton was a member of the Missouri Tigers football team that played in the 1942 Sugar Bowl and was a member of the 1943 All-Big Six Conference football team. He played for the 1944 Purdue Boilermakers football team as a member of the United States Navy.[1] He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 1944 NFL draft.[2] He played for the Bears in 1945 and signed with the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference on February 28, 1946.[3] He scored his only professional touchdown that year in a game against Chicago Rockets.[4] He played two games for the Buffalo Bills in 1947.[5]

Coaching

From 1953 to 1955, Morton was the line coach at DePauw University. On February 23, 1956, he was hired for the same position at the University of Toledo.[6] Three months later, head coach Forrest England was given a year's leave due to illness and Morton was promoted to head coach.[7] Toledo went 1–7–1 in 1956 and both Morton and England were fired at the end of the season.[8]

From 1957 to 1958, Morton was the defensive line coach for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL.[9] In 1959, he returned to the college ranks as an assistant at Marquette University.[10]

Morton was the head coach of the Grand Rapids Blazers of the United Football League in 1961 and led the team to the league championship.[11] In 1962, he was named head coach and director of player personnel for the Jackson Panthers of the American Football Conference, but the league folded before the season began.[12] He returned to Grand Rapids in 1963, but resigned prior to the 1964 season.[13] [14] He instead spent that year as the defensive coordinator of the UFL's Joliet Explorers.[15]

Notes and References

  1. News: Morton to Assist Faurot at Missouri . 20 February 2024 . Youngstown Vindicator . December 13, 1945.
  2. Web site: 1944 NFL Draft . Pro Football Reference . Sports Reference LLC . 20 February 2024.
  3. News: Los Angeles Pros Add Star Ends; Dick Horne Signs Up . 20 February 2024 . Eugene Register-Guard . February 27, 1946.
  4. Web site: Los Angeles Dons at Chicago Rockets - October 5th, 1946 . Pro Football Reference . Sports Reference LLC . 20 February 2024.
  5. Web site: John Morton. Pro-Football-Reference. July 3, 2018.
  6. News: Morton, Cahill Signed To Coach Rocket Linemen . 20 February 2024 . Toledo Blade . February 23, 1956.
  7. News: Morton Replaces England As Coach . 20 February 2024 . Toledo Blade . May 17, 1956.
  8. News: Rothman . Seymour . Larche Hired As TU Grid Coach . 20 February 2024 . Toledo Blade . January 14, 1957.
  9. Web site: John Morton. The Pro Football Archives. July 10, 2018.
  10. News: Morton Joins Marquette Staff . 20 February 2024 . Toledo Blade . February 12, 1959.
  11. News: Morton To Coach Semi-Pro Team . 20 February 2024 . The Pittsburgh Press . July 16, 1961.
  12. News: Coach Signed . 20 February 2024 . The Owosso Argus-Press . February 26, 1962.
  13. News: Morton is Coach . 20 February 2024 . The Bonham Daily Favorite . May 19, 1963.
  14. News: Blazers Seeking New Grid Coach . 20 February 2024 . Toledo Blade . June 17, 1964.
  15. News: Tornadoes Sign Two Backs For Final Exhibition Test . 20 February 2024 . Toledo Blade . August 19, 1964.