Brief

Patriots Hall of Famer Jon Morris Dies at 84

The New England Patriots announced the death of former center Jon Morris, the franchise's first Pro Bowl player.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:24:46 GMT

New England Patriots announced Thursday that former center Jon Morris died at age 84. Morris played for the Patriots from 1964 to 1974, becoming the team's first Pro Bowl selection in 1970.

He began his career at Holy Cross (1961‑63), was drafted by both the Green Bay Packers (second round) and the Boston Patriots (fourth round) in 1964, and chose to sign with the Patriots. After stints with the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, he returned to New England as a radio color commentator (1979‑87) and later worked as an NBC analyst.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft said, "Jon Morris was one of the great players who helped build the foundation of our franchise," adding that his 2011 Hall of Fame induction ensured his legacy would endure.

Key facts

• Jon Morris died at age 84 (bleacherreport.com)
• Morris was the Patriots' first Pro Bowl selection in 1970 (bleacherreport.com)
• He played for the Patriots from 1964‑1974 and later for Detroit and Chicago (bleacherreport.com)
• Robert Kraft praised Morris in a statement released by the team (bleacherreport.com)

Sources

• [1] bleacherreport.com — originally reported as “Patriots Legend Jon Morris Dies at Age 84, Earned Franchise's 1st Pro Bowl Selection”