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Today in Patriots History
Jon Morris
Jon Morris
March 27, 2011:
Jon Morris is elected into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame
New England Patriots of the Past: Jon Morris
The New England Patriots have been home to a long line of star players who have made a long lasting impact on the game of football. This week, the New England Patriots office of Last Word on Pro Football will dive into Jon Morris, the great center of the 1960's and 1970's Patriots.
lastwordonsports.com
Jon Morris was a gifted athlete long before arriving at college. In high school, Morris was a three-sport athlete, excelling at football, basketball, and baseball. He decided that football was his passion, and went to the College of the Holy Cross to pursue football.
Morris was a two-way player in college, playing both center and linebacker. His athletic play immediately gained him nationwide praise as one of the best centers in college football. Morris spent three years as a collegiate athlete, getting better and better with each passing year. His college career peaked his senior year, when he was an All-American. Additionally, Morris was also the captain of the Senior Bowl team.
Interestingly enough, Morris’ Patriots career almost never happened. Morris first entered the league in 1964, before the National Football League and American Football League combined to form one unit. During the draft process, the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, led by legendary head coach Vince Lombardi, selected Morris with their second draft pick.
However, the then-Boston Patriots selected Morris with their third pick in the AFL draft. Obviously, Morris could only play for one of these teams, and he ended up choosing the Boston Patriots. The Patriots were lucky that Morris chose them over the Packers, as he went on to have one of the greatest careers in the history of the AFL.
Morris played in all 14 games of his rookie season, and immediately became known as one of the most dominating centers in football. Morris took home the team’s Rookie of the Year award in 1964, while also winning All-AFL honors and a spot on the AFL All-Star team.
The Holy Cross product would go on to show that he was no one-year wonder, either. Morris was selected to every AFL All-Star team from 1965-1969, being named All-AFL each year. The center was an absolute iron-man, as he never missed a game during his AFL tenure.
The biggest effect of the NFL merger was that competition had never been better. The best members of both leagues now faced off, meaning Morris had to truly face the best of the best. Once more, Morris showed that he was one of the best centers in football, regardless of the league in which he played. Morris was selected to his first and final Pro Bowl in the 1970 season. In doing so, he became the first Patriot to be selected to the AFC Pro Bowl.
Much like fellow Boston Patriot Gino Cappelletti, Morris remained connected to the Patriot football scene after his retirement. Starting in 1979, Morris served as the primary color commentator for the Patriot radio games. Morris would eventually relinquish the post in 1987 after receiving a better offer with NBC Sports.
Morris had an incredible impact with the Patriot organization, both on and off the field. New England recognized his contributions to the team in 2011, when they selected him as a member of the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.
Jon Morris elected into Patriots Hall of Fame -- Patriots.com
"It was overwhelming," said Morris of his reaction to the call from Kraft. "I thought my days were numbered. This announcement came as a complete surprise. I consider this the crowning achievement of my football life and I am so thankful to the Kraft family and the selection committee for allowing me to experience this feeling.
"When I first retired from the Patriots, the alumni were not meant to feel welcome. I don't say that to be critical, it was just different. Once your career was over, it was over. You cannot be a player forever and we understood that. But, when the Kraft family came along, they changed all that. It hasn't been just a one-time thing, either. They have maintained a relationship with the alumni since he bought the team. I just think that is the neatest thing that has ever happened. It is one of the reasons that being in the hall of fame is such a big deal. They have made it a big deal. I give the Krafts all the credit for making the alumni feel so special and I look forward to being a part of this year's hall of fame ceremony."
Jon Morris Elected Into Patriots Hall Of Fame - Holy Cross Athletics
Former Holy Cross standout to be honored.
goholycross.com
Morris is the first Patriots Hall of Fame inductee to be selected by the newly formed senior selection committee. Morris will be inducted along with one of the 2011 Patriots Hall of Fame finalists in a ceremony later this year. The three 2011 hall of fame finalists will be revealed online at Patriots.com on April 15, 2011. Fans will have one month to vote for the finalist they believe is most deserving of hall of fame induction. The Patriots are the only NFL team that includes their fans in the voting process and gives them the responsibility of making the annual selection.
Hall of Fame doors swing open for Morris in Foxboro
A fourth-round draft choice of the Boston Patriots in 1964, Jon Morris is finally deemed worthy of the honor. A member of the Patriots’ 50th anniversary team, the old center is voted in by a 10-perso…
www.enterprisenews.com
Three strikes, and Jon Morris wasn’t out. Given a fourth shot, Morris was in, deemed worthy of induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
The Patriots organization was to officially announce Morris’ selection today.
The old center is a trendsetter, the first Patriots early-era player to gain entry into the franchise Hall through the vote of a 10-person senior selection committee consisting of some of the team’s most tenured beat writers and staff members.
How old is Morris?
He was inducted into the Holy Cross Hall of Fame 38 years ago. He was a fourth-round draft choice of the Patriots back when they played in the old AFL and at Fenway Park. He played his last game for the Pats 37 years ago when they called Schaefer Stadium their home.
Jon Morris to be enshrined in Pats Hall of Fame
Morris is the first player chosen for induction by the new senior selection committee.
www.boston.com
On Friday, the members of the newly-formed senior selection committee decided to bestow upon former Patriots center Jon Morris the fans had not chosen him for: induction into the team’s Hall of Fame.
Morris, the center on the Pats’ 50th anniversary team and a six-time AFL all-star during his 11-year career in New England (he also made the Pro Bowl in 1970), had been one of three finalists for fan voting into the Hall in each of the previous three years, but had lost out to Jim Nance, Sam “Bam” Cunningham and Ben Coates.
And with a slew of more recent stars becoming eligible for induction over the next few years – Drew Bledsoe is a shoo-in this year, Troy Brown comes up next year, and Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison and Willie McGinest are eligible in 2013 – it seemed even less likely that Morris would get his due.
Ex-Holy Cross star Morris joins Patriots Hall
The New England Patriots announced yesterday that former Holy Cross star Jon Morris has been elected to the team's Hall of Fame by a 10-person senior selection committee. The selection was made Frida…
www.telegram.com
“I just think that is the neatest thing that has ever happened. It is one of the reasons that being in the Hall of Fame is such a big deal. They have made it a big deal. I give the Krafts all the credit for making the alumni feel so special, and I look forward to being a part of this year's Hall of Fame ceremony.”
Morris played 11 seasons for the Patriots, appearing in 130 games from 1964-74. He earned seven consecutive all-star appearances, including six AFL All Star games (1964-69) and one selection to the AFC Pro Bowl team in 1970. His seven all-star selections rank second in Patriots history behind Pro Football Hall of Famer John Hannah (9).
Jon Morris entering Patriots' Hall of Fame
The New England Patriots announced Sunday center Jon Morris will be inducted into the club's Hall of Fame.Morris is the first selection of a newly formed senior committee that will ensure players from the franchise's early years will receive consideration with a growing number of players from...
www.espn.com
Morris was a Green Bay Packers second-round draft choice in 1964, but the Holy Cross grad eschewed the opportunity to play for Vince Lombardi and stayed in Massachusetts.
Morris was a member of the Patriots' 50th anniversary team, was chosen for six AFL all-star squads and one Pro Bowl. He remained with the team as a radio analyst from 1979 to 1987.
Jon Morris on his Induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame
Believe it or not, Jim Otto was not the only man to play center in the American Football League! As incredible and enduring as we was (and he was both), Jim Otto garners nearly 100% of the attention when the center position is brought up in regards to the AFL. But
talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com
Believe it or not, Jim Otto was not the only man to play center in the American Football League! As incredible and enduring as we was (and he was both), Jim Otto garners nearly 100% of the attention when the center position is brought up in regards to the AFL. But there were other very fine centers through the league.
From 1964-1974, Jon Morris played center for the Boston Patriots. Drafted out of Holy Cross in the second round of the 1964 AFL Draft, Morris won the Patriots’ Rookie of the Year honors in ’64, and settled in for his 11-season stay as leader of the Patriots offensive line.
In 2011, after many near misses, Jon Morris was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
Boston Patriots -- Remember the AFL
Jon Morris was a sensational three sport athlete in high school and played center and linebacker for three seasons at Holy Cross College, where he was the New York Daily News' "Athlete of the Year" in 1960 and Varsity Club Athlete of the Year and Lineman of the Year in 1963.
Morris 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.
The Packers were unable to lure him as a No. 2 draft choice and the Patriots signed him as their third pick. Morris was the Patriots' team Rookie of the Year in 1964, and their Unsung Hero in 1965.
He was an American Football League All-Star six times, 1964 through 1969, and played 128 games for the Patriots (eighth best individual record in club history). Morris was named to the second team, American Football League All-Time Team.
* Note: At the time Morris actually ranked 7th in the history of the Patriots in number of games played with 130. He now ranks 39th, tied with Logan Mankins in that category.
Picture Day allegedly from July 15, 1971(or maybe 1969-70?): offensive line RT Tom Neville, RG Len St. Jean, C Jon Morris, LT Tom Funchess and LG Mike Montler.
Why '10 voting for Patriots HOF is big
Super Bowl Era players start coming up soon, and old-time players will have a tougher time getting inducted after 2010.
www.boston.com
Do you feel, Jon Morris, it’s tougher for American Football League players to get recognition? Seems I set him off a little:
“I had this conversation with someone the other day — I think it’s a disgrace that the all-time leading scorer in the American Football League is not in the NFL Hall of Fame,” Morris said, referencing Gino Cappelletti. “And I just wonder if that has something to do with it.”
And that led us down another road.
“I don’t know if any politics are involved in terms of the old AFL-NFL rivalry. I think that’s long gone, don’t you?” Morris continued. “I just think the longer you’re away from football, the easier it is to forget.
Jon & Gail Morris
itsallpink.com
Interesting interview with Jon Morris and his wife Gail in the link above. He mentions how when he played football players had to take part time jobs in the offseason. Morris worked with a Boston food broker, which gave him enough experience to open up his own food brokerage when his football career ended. He and his wife retired to an impressive sounding home on a golf resort in South Carolina.
Jon Morris Career Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com
Get Jon Morris Career game log for regular season and playoff games on Pro-football-reference.com.
www.pro-football-reference.com
