Rick Norton

Richard Eugene Norton (November 16, 1943 – July 25, 2013) was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats before playing with the American Football League (AFL)'s Miami Dolphins from 1966 to 1969, and one game for the NFL's Green Bay Packers in 1970. He died of natural causes on July 25, 2013.

Norton holds the distinction of throwing the last professional touchdown pass at Wrigley Field. It came on a 29-yard pass to John Hilton in the fourth quarter of a 35–17 Chicago Bears victory over Norton's Packers on December 13, 1970.

Life and career Richard Eugene "Rick" Norton was born on November 16, 1943, in Louisville, Kentucky. One season earlier, Norton led the Southeastern Conference in pass attempts, completions, passing yards, and average yards per attempt, completion, and game, as well as passer rating. In the 30 games he played with the Kentucky Wildcats, Norton completed 298 out of 598 pass attempts (just under 50%) for 4,514 yards, with 26 touchdown passes and 44 interceptions.

After college, Norton was selected second overall in the 1966 American Football League (AFL) draft by the expansion Miami Dolphins and 29th in 1966 National Football League (NFL) draft by the Cleveland Browns, both held on November 27, 1965. According to Time magazine, the consensus among pro scouts was the quarterback prospects for the 1966 drafts was "awful" but described Norton as "the best of a bad lot." On December 10, 1965, the Dolphins signed Norton to their roster via a three-year, $350,000 contract, making him the second-highest paid football player at the time, behind only Joe Namath. Norton recorded a passer rating of zero three times, all as a starter, on the road against the Buffalo Bills one week later and at home versus the Houston Oilers and New York Jets in 1969. His lone win as a starter was in the penultimate week of the 1969 season, at home against the Denver Broncos. In that match, Norton completed 14 out of 27 passes, with 123 yards, 2 touchdown passes, and 1 interception in a 27-24 victory. On December 2, 1970, the Green Bay Packers signed Norton due to injuries to Bart Starr and Frank Patrick. He appeared in one game for the Packers, on the road against the Chicago Bears on December 13, completing 3 out of 5 pass attempts for 64 yards and 1 touchdown pass. a 29-yard throw to John Hilton in the fourth quarter of a 35–17 Bears win.