Mercury Morris, 2-time Super Bowl champion with the Dolphins, dies at 77

Eugene "Mercury" Morris, the Miami Dolphins' two-time Super Bowl champion and linchpin of the team's flawless 1972 season, has died, according to his son Troy-Jeffrey Morris, who revealed the news on social media on Sunday. Mercury Morris was 77.

Morris, a three-time selection for the Pro Bowl.

What his family said in a statement was that his "talent and passion left an indelible mark on the sport."

"Beyond the field, Mercury was a devoted father, a loving brother, a loyal friend, and a pillar in the community," the family stated. "His presence extended far beyond football, as he touched the lives of many throughout his time in Miami."

Along with Jim Kiick and Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka, Morris was the starting halfback and one of Dolphins coach Don Shula's three go-to runners during Miami's back-to-back championship seasons in 1972 and 1973. In both of those seasons, Morris led the Dolphins in rushing touchdowns—finishing with an NFL-high 12 in 1972 and then another 10 in 1973.

It just so happens that Morris' eight-year career also included those two seasons, which were the finest in Dolphins history. In 1972, he set a career high of 1,000 yards in the passing game. The next year, he added 954 yards and the league's highest yardage per carry of 6.4.

“Morris left a lasting impact through his dynamic play, personality and record-breaking performances,” the Dolphins said in a statement. “He loved the Dolphins, the fans and the community of South Florida and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest players to don the aqua and orange.

“Our hearts are with his family, loved ones and teammates as they honor his life and mourn his passing.”

Following the conclusion of his football career, Morris experienced a number of personal difficulties. Most notably, he was sentenced to 20 years in jail following his conviction for cocaine trafficking in 1982. He challenged the verdict, acknowledging that he had used cocaine but never sold it, partly as a way to cope with multiple chronic injuries. After the Florida Supreme Court reversed his conviction in 1986, Morris started giving motivational speeches advising people abstaining from narcotics.

"Was I bitter? Not really," Morris wrote in his book "Against The Grain," published in 1998. "I would not recommend three days in jail to anyone, much less three years. But I must be honest: I needed to go through what I did to develop the character I had when I became a free man."

In 2013, Morris became a member of the Dolphins Hall of Fame. After Csonka (6,737), Ricky Williams (6,436), and Ronnie Brown (4,815), he is still fourth on the team's all-time rushing tally with 3,877 yards.