Joe Morrison

Joseph R. Morrison (August 21, 1937 – February 5, 1989) was an American professional football player and coach who played running back and wide receiver in the National Football League. Born in Lima, Ohio, he attended the University of Cincinnati, where across three varsity seasons he played halfback, quarterback, and defense. The New York Giants drafted him in the third round of the 1959 NFL draft, and he spent his entire professional playing career with the team, from 1959 to 1972, lining up mostly at running back and wide receiver. He caught 395 passes from seven different quarterbacks, third on the Giants' team record for receptions, and his plays gained 4,993 yards over his career. The Giants retired his jersey number, 40.

After his playing days, Morrison moved into coaching. He served as head football coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1973 to 1979, at the University of New Mexico from 1980 to 1982, and at the University of South Carolina from 1983 to 1988. Across those tenures he compiled a career college coaching record of 101–72–7. Morrison died on February 5, 1989, at the age of 51.