Larry Morris facts for kids
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| No. 31, 33, 55 | |||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | December 10, 1933 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Died: | December 19, 2012 (aged 79) Austell, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 226 lb (103 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Decatur (Decatur, Georgia) | ||||
| College: | Georgia Tech | ||||
| NFL Draft: | 1955 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Larry Cleo Morris (December 10, 1933 – December 19, 2012) was an American professional football player. He was a talented linebacker who played mostly for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL). Larry was known as "The Brahma Bull" because of his strong playing style.
Before joining the NFL, he was a star All-American player for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He was even named to the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, which means he was one of the best players of the 1960s.
College Football Star
Larry Morris was a key player for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets for four years. He played both offense (center) and defense (linebacker). He was chosen three times as a first-team All-SEC player. He was also a team captain in his senior year.
Larry played during some of Georgia Tech's most successful seasons. His team had an amazing record of 40 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties. They won two SEC titles and four bowl games. In 1952, they even shared the national championship with a perfect 12–0 record. In his last college game, he made an incredible 24 tackles against rival Georgia. Larry Morris was later honored by being named to the All-SEC 25-year team. In 1992, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
Larry Morris was a highly sought-after player. He was the seventh overall pick in the 1955 NFL draft. He played a total of 12 seasons in the NFL. His teams included the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears, and Atlanta Falcons.
One of his biggest achievements was being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 1963 NFL Championship Game. He helped the Chicago Bears win that championship. Later in his career, he was also a member of the very first team for the Atlanta Falcons in 1966.
Health and Legacy
Larry Morris's brain was donated for scientific study after his death. This was to help researchers understand brain injuries in former professional football players.
An autopsy confirmed that Larry had a brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This condition is caused by repeated hits to the head. Larry Morris is one of many former NFL players diagnosed with CTE after they passed away.
Larry Cleo Morris passed away on December 19, 2012. He spent his last few years in a nursing home in Austell, Georgia.
See also
- 1952 college football season
- Mike Ditka
- List of NFL players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy
