National Football Foundation

A four-year performer at tailback and as a return specialist under College Football Hall of Fame coach John Robinson for USC, Chad Morton led the Trojans to a 26-22 record and an appearance in the 1998 Sun Bowl. The team leader in rushing yards in 1998 (985) and 1999 (1141), he ranks 11^th in school history in career rushing yards. A two-year team captain, Morton was named the team MVP and was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game after his senior season. The team leader in punt returns in 1996 (149) and 1997 (168), he ranks 15^th in school history in career punt return yards (390). Morton also paced the Trojans in scoring (90) and kick return yards (341) in 1999. A four-time First Team Academic All-Pac-10 selection, he was a consistent member of the Dean’s List. Morton earned a degree in sociology.

He was selected in the fifth round (166^th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints and made an immediate impact on special teams, returning 30 punts for 278 yards and 44 kickoffs for 1,029 yards. Morton also rushed for 136 yards on 36 carries and caught 30 passes for 213 yards. In a divisional playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, he set an NFL record for receptions in a playoff game by a rookie and tied the NFL record for receptions in a playoff game by any player with 13 catches. Morton was traded to the New York Jets following his rookie season and enjoyed his career-best year at kick returner in 2002, accumulating 1,509 yards and a league-leading two touchdowns. He was named First Team All-Pro for his efforts in 2002.

In seven NFL seasons, Morton returned 155 career punts for 1,431 yards and a touchdown along with 229 kick returns for 5,401 yards and three touchdowns. After his retirement, he joined the Green Bay Packers in 2009 as the team’s coaching administrator and was promoted to assistant special teams coach in 2010. Morton was a staff member of the Super Bowl XLV Champion Packers. He is currently a special teams assistant coach for the Seattle Seahawks.