Quarterback
No. 11
Michigan State
"Morrall hopes he'll settle down for a long stay as the club's top T-man after proving his abilities at San Francisco and Pittsburgh. The 1959 figures prove him the NFL's second-best passer, averaging 8.04 yards per toss, good for five touchdowns. Morrall filled in as a punter 11 times and booted for a respectable 43.7.
He was a 49er rookie in 1956 and a Steeler starter in '57, clicking for 11 scores. Morrall joined the Lions after the start of the '58 campaign, connecting for five tallies even though a shoulder injury slowed him down that year.
Morrall was born in Muskegon, Michigan."
-1960 Pro Football Handbook
"Earl Morrall proved to be the down-the-stretch quarterback of the season, leading the club through its last four victories. He completed 32 of 49 passes for a fantastic 65.3 figure and accounted for 423 yards and four touchdowns.
Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Earl was the first draft choice of the 49ers in 1956. He moved to the Steelers in '57 and Lions in '58."
-1961 Pro Football Handbook
"Last year vindicated Earl Morrall as a pro quarterback. Since breaking into the league in 1956, he's been on the verge of making good, never quite breaking through. The Forty-Niners placed him behind Tittle, the Steelers broke him in as a regular but then traded him for Bobby Layne, and Detroit had him in Tobin Rote's shadow.
Slated finally for a starting spot, Earl was pushed out by Jim Ninkowski, but recovered brilliantly late in the season to lead the Lions to second place."
-1961 Fleer No. 78
"Standing by to give Milt Plum any necessary relief is Earl Morrall, the Muskegon (Mich.) aerial artist who is qualified to do a first-rate quarterback job. He shared duties with Jim Ninkowski in 1961 and also helped with the ball-carrying burden. Versatile enough to take over punting duties, he's one of the old-time triple-threat performers.
Morrall was the first selection of the 49ers in 1956 and was dealt to the Steelers in '57 before coming to the Lions in '58."
-Don Schiffer, 1962 Pro Football Handbook
"Never did Earl Morrall look better than in 1963 when he closed as the No. 3 passer in the loop with 174 for 328, good for 2,621 yards. Although it was his eighth year as a pro, he made better use of his pass-protective pocket than ever before, waiting until the last second before firing. Even in the face of heavy pressure, he continued to make all defenses hustle more than usual to prevent him from hitting the target. Always known as the NFL's 'best relief pitcher,' he's now one of the best starters if those 1963 figures can be taken seriously.
Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Morrall was drafted by the 49ers and then was dealt to the Steelers. He came to Detroit in 1958 and now seems to have taken the starting job from Milt Plum."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1964
"Now considered the first-string quarterback, Earl Morrall went to training camp rated over Milt Plum. Last season Morrall completed 174 of 328 passes for 2,621 yards and 24 touchdowns after Plum was benched early in the season.
An All-America at Michigan State, he was the 49ers top draft choice in 1956 but was traded to the Steelers the following season. The Lions obtained him in a 1958 deal for Bobby Layne.
Morrall nearly ended his career when an accident cut off part of his big toe in 1962. He's an industrial-firm salesman."
-Dave Anderson, Pro Football Handbook 1964
"What did Coach George Wilson call Earl? The best No. 2 quarterback in the NFL."
-1964 Philadelphia No. 65
"It began to look as though Morrall was finally going to break through as the Lions' No. 1 quarterback in 1963, and he started last season ahead of Milt Plum. But then he suffered a shoulder injury and Plum took over for him. That was a reversal of their positions since it was usually Earl who came in to relieve Milt, so effectively, in fact, he has been called the 'best relief pitcher in the league.'
In 1963, when he had his best year, he passed for 2,621 yards and he threw for 24 touchdowns. He was the 49ers' first draft choice in 1956, after starring at Michigan State, and he came to Detroit from Pittsburgh, where he spent the 1958 season."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
GARY WOOD
QuarterbackNo. 19
Cornell
"You want to know how good Gary Wood really is? Ask him, he's an authority on the subject. Maybe it would be unfair to say that he's cocky; but Gary is certainly loaded with confidence, which is a good thing to have when you are going into your sophomore year in the NFL, with nothing less than the entire season resting on your slim shoulders.
With Tittle's shocking and sudden demise last season, Gary was shoved right in and he acquitted himself well under fire. He's not big, as quarterbacks go these days (5-11 and 188 pounds) and he doesn't throw the long bomb, but he managed to move the club anyway. He can spot and hit his receivers instantaneously, and when he's in trouble he scrambles nicely.
If he makes it, it will be quite a vote for the Ivy League; Gary played his college ball at Cornell."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
BOB TIMBERLAKE
Place Kicker-Quarterback
3rd Round
Michigan
"Bob Timberlake, the divinity student, is an All-American from Michigan. A quarterback in college, he probably will be tried at halfback, where he can pass or run. He's 6-4, 220 pounds."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
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