The nickname, “Mr. Irrelevant”, is given each year to the NFL player who is selected with the last pick in the NFL draft.
In the 2020 NFL draft, “Mr. Irrelevant” was selected in the seventh round, with the 255th overall pick.
What would you call someone who was drafted in the 28th round of the 1956 NFL draft, as the 336th overall pick?
You would call him John Morrow.
Despite Morrow’s low draft selection, he had a successful NFL career, especially during the seven seasons that he played center for the Cleveland Browns from 1960 to 1966.
Morrow earned postseason honors in 1961, 1963, and 1965 and contributed to the Browns winning their last NFL championship in 1964.
We take a look at the life of John Morrow – before, during, and after his NFL playing career.
The Early Years Through High School
John Melville Morrow Jr. was born in Port Huron, Michigan on April 27, 1933.
Port Huron is located in southeastern Michigan, at the southern end of Lake Huron and on the border with Ontario province in Canada.
Morrow’s parents were John and Dorothy Morrow.
He had two brothers, Gordon and Tom, and a sister, Ann.
Morrow attended Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Ann Arbor is about 100 miles southwest of Port Huron.
After graduating from Pioneer High School in 1951, Morrow spent one year at Staunton Military Academy in Staunton, Virginia.
At Staunton Military Academy, Morrow played varsity football and basketball.
He also played trombone there.
In 1952, Morrow left Staunton Military Academy and returned to Ann Arbor, where he enrolled at University of Michigan for college.
College Years
Morrow played football for three years at Michigan from 1953 to 1955.
He played center and tackle on offense and linebacker on defense for the Wolverines.
When Michigan’s captain Dick O’Shaughnessy was injured during the 1953 season, Morrow was called upon to play center.
It was difficult for Morrow to play center in Michigan’s single-wing offense.
“Playing center was a difficult challenge. You’re making a direct snap and there are 5 different spots you can put the ball, so you couldn’t keep your head up. The center was sort of lost at the start of a play, because you were a second or so behind a shifting defense. It was a slight disadvantage in terms of blocking.”
In 1953, Morrow started four games at center for the Wolverines.
Michigan had a 6-3 record in 1953, including a 20-0 shutout of Ohio State on November 21, 1953.
The Wolverines were ranked 20th in the nation in the final Associated Press poll in 1953.
Morrow started three games at right tackle for Michigan in 1954.
The Wolverines again posted a 6-3 record in 1954.
Michigan defeated Iowa (then ranked fourth in the nation by the Associated Press) 14-13 on October 9, 1954, and shutout Minnesota (then ranked eighth in the nation by the Associated Press) 34-0 on October 23, 1954.
Michigan was ranked 15th in the nation in the final Associated Press poll in 1954.
While Morrow played for the Wolverines in 1955 (and received his third varsity letter), he did not start any games.
Michigan had a 7-2 record in 1955, including a 26-2 victory over Army (then ranked sixth in the nation by the Associated Press).
The Wolverines were ranked 12th in the nation in the final Associated Press poll in 1955.
While at Michigan, Morrow had a number of jobs.
As a freshman, he sold programs at the stadium.
He later ran the kitchen for his fraternity and scraped the ice in preparation for and between periods at Michigan hockey games.
After his four years at Michigan, Morrow headed to the NFL.
The Pro Football Years
1956-1963
Morrow was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 28th round of the 1956 NFL draft.
He was the 336th overall pick.
The Rams selected 33 players in the 1956 NFL draft before Morrow.
Not one of them was to become an NFL primary starter at his position for as many years as Morrow (nine).
Morrow played for the Rams from 1956 to 1959.
He played in 35, and started 28, regular season games for Los Angeles, primarily at center.
Los Angeles posted records of 4-8 in 1956, 6-6 in 1957, 8-4 in 1958, and 2-10 in 1959.
Morrow never played in the playoffs with the Rams.
On March 14, 1960, Morrow was traded to the Cleveland Browns for Art Hunter.
Hunter had been a Pro Bowl center for Cleveland in 1959.
Why did future Pro Football Hall of Fame Browns head coach Paul Brown trade a Pro Bowl center for Morrow, who through 1959 had never received any postseason honors?
According to Morrow’s nephew, Jordan Morrow:
“My uncle said Paul Brown traded for him because he could run and get out and block for Jim Brown on the sweeps.”
When Morrow joined the Browns, his roommate was future Pro Football Hall of Fame kicker and tackle Lou Groza.
While Morrow initially had a difficult encounter with Groza, Morrow and Groza ultimately had a great relationship.
“Lou was the Browns to me. I was assigned to be his roommate. I showed up at Hiram College for training camp. The dorm were so small. It was sticky hot in August. One bed was by the window. I took it.”
After leaving his bags on the bed, Morrow left the room.
When he returned, Groza was standing by the bed.
Groza stared at Morrow.
“[Groza] wanted to know who the hell I was and what was I doing with his bed. It was the only time we ever had a disagreement.”
Another memory of Morrow was Groza grilling steaks after practice at training camp.
“Then we’d go for a ride in the countryside. I had an Olds 98 convertible. We’d light up a couple of good cigars. It was a great time.”
On the field, in his first regular season with the Browns in 1960, Morrow (playing at a height of six feet and three inches and a weight of 244 pounds) started all 12 regular season games at center.
In his first regular season game with the Browns, Morrow helped Cleveland defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 41-24 on September 25, 1960.
The Browns rushed for 329 yards, including 153 yards by future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown and 156 yards by future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Bobby Mitchell, and did not have any lost yards from sacks.
On October 16, 1960, with Morrow at center, the Browns rushed for 200 yards in a 48-7 Cleveland victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
In a 28-27 Browns win over the St. Louis Cardinals on November 13, 1960, Morrow’s play contributed to Cleveland rushing for 234 yards, including 173 yards by Jim Brown.
Morrow helped Cleveland, which did not have any lost yards from sacks, defeat the Chicago Bears 42-0 on December 11, 1960.
Jim Brown rushed for 100 yards.
In the next game, with Morrow at center, the Browns scored more than 40 points for the fourth time in the 1960 regular season, in a 48-34 Cleveland victory over the New York Giants on December 18, 1960; Cleveland did not have any lost yards from sacks.
Quarterback Milt Plum passed for 296 yards and four touchdowns, Jim Brown rushed for 110 yards, and Bobby Mitchell had 133 receiving yards.
The Browns posted an 8-3-1 record in 1960, but failed to make the playoffs.
Morrow’s play contributed to Cleveland’s offense ranking in the NFL regular season in 1960 first in points scored (362), fifth in total passing and rushing yards (3,974), third in passing touchdowns (22), third in rushing yards (1,930), third in rushing touchdowns (18), and first in average yards per rushing attempt (5.0).
In 1961, Morrow started all 14 regular season games at center.
On October 1, 1961, with Morrow at center, the Browns rushed for 216 yards, in a 25-7 Cleveland victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
The Browns did not have any lost yards from sacks.
Morrow’s play contributed to Cleveland rushing for 229 yards (including 114 yards by Jim Brown and 119 yards by Bobby Mitchell), in a 30-28 Browns win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 22, 1961.
The following week, on October 29, 1961, Morrow helped the Browns rush for 224 yards (including 109 yards by Jim Brown and 104 yards by Bobby Mitchell), as Cleveland defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 21-10.
With Morrow at center, in a 45-24 Cleveland victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on November 19, 1961, Cleveland rushed for 259 yards (including 237 yards and four touchdowns by Jim Brown). Milt Plum passed for 246 yards, and Cleveland did not have any lost yards from sacks.
In a 38-17 Browns win over the Dallas Cowboys on December 3, 1961, Morrow’s play contributed to Cleveland rushing for 230 yards (including 140 yards by Bobby Mitchell).
Cleveland did not have any lost yards from sacks.
Morrow recovered a fumble in 1961.
For his play in 1961, Morrow received his first Pro Bowl invitation.
Cleveland had an 8-5-1 record in 1961 and failed to make the playoffs.
Morrow helped the Browns offense rank in the NFL regular season in 1961 second in fewest sacks allowed (17), second in lowest lost yards from sacks (164), second in rushing yards (2,163), and tied for fifth in average yards per rushing attempt (4.5).
Morrow again started all 14 regular season games at center in 1962.
This 1960s-era photo from Hiram College shows Cleveland Browns center John Morrow at the Browns training camp in Hiram, Ohio. The college served as the summer home of the Browns from 1952 to 1974, and visitors drove from all over Ohio to attend the practices and get autographs. pic.twitter.com/Ybd9ZH6WVr
— Ohio History Connection (@OhioHistory) June 21, 2018
On September 16, 1962, Morrow’s play contributed to Cleveland rushing for 216 yards (including 134 yards by Jim Brown), as the Browns defeated the New York Giants 17-7.
Morrow helped the Browns defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 34-7 on October 21, 1962.
Quarterback Jim Ninowski passed for 339 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Ray Renfro had 152 receiving yards.
The following week, with Morrow at center, Cleveland rushed for 200 yards, in a 41-14 Browns win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 28, 1962.
On November 18, 1962, Morrow’s play contributed to Jim Brown rushing for four touchdowns, in a 38-14 Cleveland victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The following week, on November 25, 1962, Morrow helped Cleveland defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 35-14.
Quarterback Frank Ryan passed for 284 yards and three touchdowns, and Jim Brown rushed for 110 yards.
With a 7-6-1 record, Cleveland did not make the playoffs in 1962.
With Morrow at center, the Cleveland offense ranked in the NFL regular season in 1962 second in fewest sacks allowed (27), second in lowest lost yards from sacks (213), third in rushing touchdowns (18), and fifth in average yards per rushing attempt (4.3).
In 1963, Morrow again started all 14 regular season games at center.
In a 37-14 Browns win over the Washington Redskins on September 15, 1963, Morrow helped Cleveland rush for 217 yards, including 162 yards by Jim Brown (who also had 100 receiving yards). Frank Ryan passed for 334 yards.
The following week, on September 22, 1963, with Morrow at center, Cleveland rushed for 265 yards (including 232 yards by Jim Brown), as the Browns defeated the Dallas Cowboys 41-24. The Browns did not have any lost yards from sacks.
On October 20, 1963, in a 37-7 Cleveland victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, Morrow’s play contributed to the Browns passing for 282 “net pass yards” (including four touchdown passes by Frank Ryan) and rushing for 218 yards (including 144 yards by Jim Brown).
In another Cleveland win over the Eagles (23-17 on November 3, 1963), Morrow helped the Browns rush for 274 yards (including 223 yards by Jim Brown).
With Morrow at center, on December 1, 1963, Cleveland rushed for 240 yards (including 179 yards by Jim Brown), as the Browns defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 24-10.
Wide receiver Gary Collins had 100 receiving yards.
Morrow received his second Pro Bowl invitation in 1963.
Cleveland had a 10-4 record in 1963, but failed to make the playoffs.
Morrow’s play contributed to the Browns offense ranking in the NFL regular season in 1963 third in points scored (343), fifth in total passing and rushing yards (4,856), third in passing touchdowns (27), third in fewest sacks allowed (25), third in lowest lost yards from sacks (232), first in rushing yards (2,639), tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns (15), and first in average yards per rushing attempt (5.7).
1964-1966
In his first four seasons with Cleveland, Morrow had played on a team that posted a winning record each year.
What Morrow had not achieved with the Browns was a championship; that was to change in 1964.
Morrow again started all 14 regular season games at center in 1964.
On October 4, 1964, with Morrow at center, Frank Ryan passed for 256 yards and three touchdowns, as the Browns defeated the Dallas Cowboys 27-6.
Future Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Paul Warfield had 123 receiving yards.
Morrow’s play contributed to the Browns scoring over 40 points, in a 42-20 Cleveland win over the New York Giants on October 25, 1964.
In the next game, on November 1, 1964, Morrow helped Cleveland rush for 250 yards (including 149 yards by Jim Brown) and defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-17.
The following week, on November 8, 1964, in a 34-24 Cleveland victory over the Washington Redskins, Morrow’s play contributed to the Browns rushing for 210 yards (including 121 yards by Jim Brown). The Browns did not have any lost yards from sacks.
With Morrow at center, Cleveland rushed for over 200 yards for the third consecutive game, rushing for 218 yards in a 37-21 Browns win over the Detroit Lions on November 15, 1964.
Jim Brown rushed for 147 yards.
On December 12, 1964, Morrow helped Cleveland score seven offensive touchdowns, as the Browns defeated the New York Giants 52-20.
Frank Ryan passed for five touchdowns, and Paul Warfield had 103 receiving yards.
Morrow recovered a fumble in 1964.
With a 10-3-1 record, Cleveland won the NFL East Division title in 1964.
Morrow’s play contributed to Cleveland’s offense ranking in the NFL regular season in 1964 second in points scored (415), third in total passing and rushing yards (4,486), first in passing touchdowns (28), second in fewest sacks allowed (28), second in lowest lost yards from sacks (219), third in rushing yards (2,163), tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns (14), and first in average yards per rushing attempt (5.0).
The Browns met the Baltimore Colts in the 1964 NFL championship game on December 27, 1964.
The Colts had an excellent defense, ranking first in the 1964 regular season in both fewest points allowed (225) and sacks (57).
However, Morrow and the rest of Cleveland’s starting offensive line (Dick Schafrath at left tackle, John Wooten at left guard, future Pro Football Hall of Famer Gene Hickerson at right guard, and Monte Clark at right tackle) met the challenge of the Colts defense and played an outstanding game.
In the running game, Jim Brown rushed for 114 yards, including a 46-yard run.
In the passing game, Frank Ryan threw three touchdown passes to Gary Collins (for 18 yards, 42 yards, and 51 yards). Collins had 130 receiving yards.
Cleveland allowed only one sack.
The Browns defeated the Colts 27-0 to win Cleveland’s first NFL championship in nine years.
In 1965, Morrow again started all 14 regular season games at center.
On October 3, 1965, Morrow’s play contributed to the Browns rushing for 239 yards (including 133 yards by Jim Brown), in a 35-17 Cleveland win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
https://twitter.com/TalknCleveland/status/274565387717316609
The following week, on October 9, 1965, Morrow helped the Browns rush for 232 yards (including 168 yards by Jim Brown), as Cleveland defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-19.
In a 38-14 Cleveland victory over the New York Giants on October 24, 1965, with Morrow at center, the Browns rushed for 243 yards (including 177 yards by Jim Brown).
Gary Collins had 121 receiving yards.
Morrow’s play contributed to another Browns win over the Giants (34-21 on November 14, 1965), as Cleveland rushed for 232 yards (including 156 yards by Jim Brown).
Running back Ernie Green had 212 total rushing and receiving yards.
On November 28, 1965, Morrow helped Cleveland rush for 241 yards (including 146 yards by Jim Brown), as the Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 42-21.
For his play in 1965, Morrow was named second team All-Pro by the Associated Press.
The Browns, with an 11-3 record, won the NFL East Division title for a second consecutive year in 1965.
With Morrow at center, the Browns offense ranked in the NFL regular season in 1965 fifth in points scored (363), tied for fourth in passing touchdowns (23), tied for fifth in fewest sacks allowed (31), first in rushing yards (2,331), tied for third in rushing touchdowns (19), and first in average yards per rushing attempt (4.9).
Cleveland met the Green Bay Packers in the 1965 NFL championship game on January 2, 1966.
Morrow started the game at center, but the Browns lost to Green Bay 23-12.
1966 started as another typically solid year for Morrow, as he started the first eight regular season games.
In a 28-7 Browns win over the New York Giants on October 2, 1966, Morrow’s play contributed to Cleveland rushing for 258 yards (including 138 yards by future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Leroy Kelly).
The following week, on October 8, 1966, Morrow helped Cleveland rush for 241 yards (including 113 yards by Leroy Kelly and 103 yards by Ernie Green), as the Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 41-10.
However, in a 16-6 Cleveland loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 6, 1966, Morrow suffered a leg injury.
After the injury, the Steelers game turned out to be Morrow’s last NFL regular season game.
At the age of 33, Morrow’s NFL career was over.
The Years After the NFL
Morrow married his wife, Gail, in 1956.
They stayed married for 61 years.
He had a daughter, Johnna.
After his retirement from the NFL, Morrow worked in the paper industry.
He also was a breeder of Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs.
His hobbies included golf, sailing, and skiing.
Morrow was in the inaugural class of members in the Pioneer High School Hall of Honor in 2017.
He was also inducted in the Staunton Military Academy Sports Hall of Fame.
At the age of 84, Morrow died on October 21, 2017 in Sherwood, Wisconsin.
This was in a box of random books that my husband bought from a local estate auction. After researching the name, we found that John Morrow played for the LA Rams in 1956/58/59 & for the @Browns from 1960-66. He moved to Sherwood, WI (20 min away) where he died last year. @NFL pic.twitter.com/2Ihy74z09F
— Lisa (@lisa_m_d_p) September 24, 2018
In reviewing Morrow’s NFL career, three points should be noted.
First, Morrow was the definition of a durable and dependable player.
From 1960 to the eighth game of the 1966 regular season, the Browns played 92 regular season and playoff games.
Despite the high potential for injury that comes with being an offensive lineman, Morrow started each of these 92 games; he did not miss one of them.
The Browns changed quarterbacks and even changed star running backs (from Jim Brown to Leroy Kelly) during these 92 games.
They did not change their center.
Second, Morrow achieved individual success.
While it is difficult to evaluate centers, as there is only limited available statistical information on them (especially when Morrow played), one measure of individual success for offensive linemen is postseason honors.
Morrow earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition in three of his six complete seasons with Cleveland.
Third, and most importantly, Morrow contributed to team success.
During Morrow’s six complete seasons with Cleveland, the Browns offense regularly ranked in the top five in the NFL in various statistical categories.
In addition, during the six seasons that Jim Brown played with Morrow (Brown retired after the 1965 season), Brown led the NFL in regular season rushing five times.
Other Cleveland players, such as Bobby Mitchell, Milt Plum, Jim Ninowski, Ray Renfro, Frank Ryan, Gary Collins, Paul Warfield, and Ernie Green, also achieved success playing with Morrow.
During the brief time that Leroy Kelly played with Morrow, Morrow helped Kelly play very well.
There is no doubt that if Morrow had not been injured in the middle of the 1966 season, he would have contributed to the success of Kelly during Kelly’s career.
The ultimate evidence of Morrow’s contribution to team success is his role in the Browns winning the 1964 NFL championship.
Three of Morrow’s teammates who started with him on the offensive line in the 1964 NFL championship game – Gene Hickerson, Dick Schafrath, and John Wooten – have been inducted into the Cleveland Browns Legends Program.
For his durability and blocking that resulted in individual and team success, John Morrow should join these offensive linemen and be inducted into the Cleveland Browns Legends Program.
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