Mercury Morris, star of undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins, dead at 77

Eugene "Mercury" Morris, who starred for the unbeaten 1972 Miami Dolphins as part of a star-studded backfield and helped the team win two Super Bowl titles, has died, the team said Sunday.

Morris, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was 77. In a statement, his family said 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," his family wrote in the statement. "His presence extended far beyond football, as he touched the lives of many throughout his time in Miami."

Morris was the starting halfback and one of three go-to runners that Dolphins coach Don Shula utilized in Miami's back-to-back title seasons of 1972 and 1973, alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. Morris led the Dolphins in rushing touchdowns in both of those seasons, finishing with an NFL-best 12 in 1972 and then 10 more in 1973.

"Morris left a lasting impact through his dynamic play, personality and record-breaking performances," read part of a statement from the Dolphins on Sunday. "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."

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dolphins great Mercury Morris. <a href="https://t.co/V2t8SFNVvf">pic.twitter.com/V2t8SFNVvf</a>

Those 1972 and 1973 seasons — the best in Dolphins' history — just happened to be the best of Morris's eight-year career as well. He rushed for a career-high 1,000 yards in 1972, then ran for 954 more along with a league-best 6.4 yards per carry the following season.

Morris wasted no time making an impact on the Dolphins. In the first game as a