What is Mercury Morris’s Net Worth?
Mercury Morris, a retired professional football player, has a net worth of $250 thousand. He played for the Miami Dolphins and the San Diego Chargers in the AFL and AFC. Morris won Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl VIII with the Dolphins, and appeared in Super Bowl VI.
In 1982, Morris was convicted of felony cocaine trafficking and served three and a half years in prison, after being sentenced to 22 years. After his release, Morris became a motivational speaker.
Early Life and Education
Mercury Morris was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 5, 1947. He attended Avonworth High School before going on to West Texas State University for college.
During his time at West Texas State University, Morris played football for the Buffaloes and was named an All-American in both 1967 and 1968. He finished second in the nation in rushing yards in 1967, behind O.J. Simpson, and set numerous collegiate records in 1968, including most rushing yards in a single game and most rushing yards in a single season. Morris also held the record for most rushing yards across three college seasons, which was later broken by Don McCauley of the University of North Carolina.
Morris was drafted in the third round by the AFL’s Miami Dolphins in the 1969 AFL-NFL common draft. He served as a backup for running back Jim Kiick and was also the primary kickoff return man. In his rookie year, Morris led the AFL in kickoff returns and had the AFL’s longest return of the season. He helped lead the Dolphins to their first Super Bowl in 1971, and the team won consecutive Super Bowls in 1972 and 1973. Morris had strong performances in the playoffs during both of those seasons, leading the Dolphins in rushing in divisional games. He continued with the team through the 1975 season, during which he led the Dolphins in rushing yards.
Morris’ Career Highlights
Mercury Morris was traded to the San Diego Chargers in 1976. He played his first and only season with the team, running for 256 yards on 50 carries. Due to lingering injuries from a past game that were exacerbated by a car accident, Morris decided to retire after the season.
During his eight-year professional career, Morris twice finished in the top five of the NFL in rushing touchdowns and once in total touchdowns. He also had a 5.1 yard-per-carry average, which ranked third all-time among NFL players.
Aside from playing football, Morris starred in the 1974 blaxploitation film “The Black Six” alongside five other NFL players. He also became a motivational speaker later in his career.
In 2006, Morris appeared in a television commercial for a hair-treatment clinic with former MLB player Wade Boggs.
Morris’ Conviction Overturned and Release from Prison
In 1982, Morris was convicted of felony cocaine trafficking and received a sentence of 22 years in prison. However, after serving three and a half years of the sentence, his conviction was overturned in March of 1986 when it was determined that evidence he had offered to prove he had been entrapped was mistakenly excluded from his original defense.
Granted a new trial, Morris managed to reach a plea bargain with the prosecutor and was released in May. Later, he appeared in an anti-cocaine PSA in which he talked about his time spent in prison.
Morris’ Family Life
Mercury Morris had three children with his third wife Bobbie, whom he married in 1979.
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