Does Stanley Morgan Have the Goods for a Gold Jacket?

By John Turney 

Should former New England wide receiver Stanley Morgan be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? That’s a question worth chewing on, and the answer isn’t as simple as a yes-or-no snap judgment. What’s undeniable, though, is that Morgan’s career demands a serious look by the voters in Canton.

The man carved out an illustrious 14-year run with the Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, piling up numbers that stack up against the best of his era -- 557 receptions, 10,716 yards, 19.2 YPC, 72 touchdowns. Those aren’t just stats; they’re a testament to a guy who was first a deep threat, then a chain-mover and a clutch performer when New England needed it most.

Compare that to some Hall of Famers from his time. He’s not just in the conversation; he’s banging on the door. Sure, the doubters might point to his lack of All-Pro nods or a thin post-season resume, but dig deeper: Morgan was a four-time Pro Bowler who played in an era stacked with elite wideouts, and he did it with a revolving door of quarterbacks.

Stanley Morgan’s career? It’s like he was the Certs of NFL receivers -- yeah, you know the classic breath mint with that old tagline, “Two, two, two mints in one.” Morgan wasn’t just a wideout; he was two receivers rolled into one, a dual-threat maestro who could burn you deep or, later in his career, grind out first downs. That’s a player who makes you sit up and wonder why his name doesn’t come up more when Canton’s calling.

Let’s rewind to the first act of Morgan’s career, from 1977-82 when he was torching secondaries as one of the most lethal deep threats the game’s ever seen. But don’t take my word for it. Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman, the dean of football scribes, called him out as elite. Or trust your eyes. If you caught him streaking down the sidelines at Schaefer Stadium, would’ve backed that up.

And the numbers? They scream it. Over those six years, Morgan racked up 4,869 receiving yards. Only four players -- Steve Largent, Charlie Joiner, James Lofton and Harold Carmichael -- had more. Notice a pattern? All four are in the Hall of Fame.

But here’s where Morgan separates himself. He did it with fewer catches and bigger plays. In the first half of his career, the Patriots were a running team with a play-action passing attack. The idea was to suck defenses up to play a potent run game, then throw over the top ... and Morgan was just the guy to do it.

His average of 22.5 yards per catch over that span was a full two yards better than the next guy on the list. The four Hall of Famers ahead of him? They ranged from 15.8 to 18.1 yards per catch. That’s not just a gap; it’s a chasm.

For players with 200 or more receptions through 1982, nobody -- not Bob “Bullet” Hayes, not Homer Jones, not even Paul Warfield -- could touch Morgan’s yards-per-catch mark. Three words: Best. Deep. Threat.

"Stanley Steamer does not go for anything short," wrote one reporter. "He goes for it all .. he gets down in a sprinter's stance and takes off. His favorite move is to take off at full speed and run under a Steve Grogan pass. Real intricate, huh? Don't knock it, it works."

Then, from about 1983 onward, his game evolved. The Patriots didn’t just send him on "go" routes every snap. They reinvented him, blending his afterburner speed with the savvy of a possession receiver, the kind of guy who becomes the engine of a passing attack. This was by design.

"We want Stanley to obtain those big results on a more consistent basis," said his new coach.

And Morgan delivered. He went from averaging 36 catches a season through 1982 to 45 the rest of his career in New England. By 1986, he was hauling in 80 catches for nearly 1,500 yards, proving he could be the chain-mover, the go-to target, while still keeping defenses honest deep. 

"He can get deep," one publication observed, "but he has refined his game so he can work the middle of a defense." 

Two receivers in one, folks -- a rare breed who could dominate in different roles.

When Stanley Morgan retired, he’d done more than just put up numbers; he’d carved out a legacy that demands a hard look from the Hall-of-Fame voters. Stepping into a bigger role with the Patriots, he wasn’t just running fly routes; he was carrying the weight of the passing game and piling stats that scream elite.

By the time he retired in 1990, he sat fifth all-time in receiving yards with 10,716. Let that sink in -- fifth, in an era of defensive backs who would mug you and secondaries built to shut down the pass. But he wasn’t done. He was also 14th in touchdown catches with 72 and is still tied for ninth in yards per catch (19.2) among players with 200 or more grabs.

But here’s the kicker: For receivers with 500-plus career catches, Morgan’s yards-per-catch mark was numero uno. Not second, not close -- but first. And you know what? It still is. No “prolific” pass-catcher ... not then, not now ... has ever matched his deep-ball efficiency while hauling in a high volume of passes.

That’s not just a stat; it’s a statement.

Morgan wasn’t just great. He was a revolution at wideout. Harold Jackson, who was a teammate of his when Morgan was the deep threat and his position coach in the mid-1980s when his role was expanded, once said, "As long as you put the ball in Stanley Morgan's hands, he will make something happen."

The 25th pick in the 1977 NFL draft out of the University of Tennessee, Morgan set the school record for all-purpose yards with 4,642 playing receiver, running back and wingback. His versatility and 4.4 speed made an immediate impact in the NFL. He was All-Rookie after starting all 14 games, averaging 21.1 yards per catch and 13.8 yards per punt return, and built his resume from there -- earning end-of-season awards that put him among the elite. 

Four Pro Bowl nods? Check. Second-team All-Pro in 1980, when he was torching defenses as "Mr. Deep Threat" with a league-leading 22.5 yards per catch? Check. Another second-team All-Pro in 1986, when he’d morphed into “Mr. Complete.” Check. And don’t sleep on this: The Sporting News named him first-team All-NFL in 1986.

Pro Football Weekly's personnel guru, the late Joel Buschbaum, was also aware of Morgan's game, naming him to his personal All-Pro team in 1980, writing, "Not only is Stanley Steamer the quickest and most explosive receiver in football; he's also a superb downfield blocker."

Yep, he was a blocker, too. He had to be in the run-first offense that the Patriots ran in those years. 

Then there’s the cherry on top: Morgan wasn’t just a receiver. Early in his career, he was a dynamite punt returner, averaging 10.4 yards on 92 returns. In 1979, he took one 80 yards to the house, showing he could flip a game with one burst of speed.

So far, some Halls have recognized him -- both the University of Tennessee Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2007 and the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame in 2016. For good measure, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Morgan to its Hall of Very Good Class of 2021.

So, why is Morgan’s name not etched in Canton? That’s the question. The closest he's come was this year when he was a seniors' semifinalist but fell short for the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame’s Class of 2025, and that's disappointing.

With yards that outshine most Hall of Famers, All-Pro honors in two distinct phases of his career and a return game that added another layer of brilliance, Morgan’s resume isn’t just Hall-worthy; it’s a demand for a long-overdue debate. Stanley Morgan is as complete a candidate as they come, and voters do him ... and themselves ... a disservice by not acknowledging it.