Norris Weese
Encyclopedia
Norris Lee Weese was a star quarterback
for Chalmette High School
and the University of Mississippi
. He had the unenviable task of replacing Mississippi QB legend Archie Manning, but performed quite well despite the big shoes to fill. He played the 1974 season for The Hawaiians
in the World Football League
before joining the NFL. Weese spent four seasons in the NFL playing for the Denver Broncos
(1976-1979), mostly as a backup quarterback.
In Super Bowl XII
against the Dallas Cowboys
, where his famed high school head coach Bobby Nuss held the chains, Weese replaced starter Craig Morton
in the third quarter after Morton nearly threw his 5th interception. Weese led the Broncos to a touchdown on the drive to cut his team's deficit to 20-10, but he lost a fumble in the fourth quarter, setting up a Dallas touchdown that put the game away. Weese was known for being a mobile QB.
Weese was named starting
quarterback for the Broncos in 1979, but a knee injury that year ended his NFL career. He finished his career with 1887 passing yards, seven touchdowns and fourteen interceptions. Weese went on to become a Certified Public Accountant
in Denver, Colorado
.
Norris Weese died on January 20, 1995, of bone cancer.
He was survived by his wife, Sandy; his daughters, Melissa and Andrea, and his son, Jacob.
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for Chalmette High School
Chalmette High School
Chalmette High School is a high school in the Chalmette area unincorporated St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is a part of St. Bernard Parish Public Schools.Chalmette High School opened in 1954 at the current site of Chalmette Elementary School, previously known as Chalmette Middle...
and the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
. He had the unenviable task of replacing Mississippi QB legend Archie Manning, but performed quite well despite the big shoes to fill. He played the 1974 season for The Hawaiians
The Hawaiians
The Hawaiians were a professional American football team based out of Honolulu that played in the World Football League. They played two seasons, 1974 and 1975. Their records were 9-11 in 1974 and 4-7-1 in 1975. Their home stadium was Honolulu Stadium in 1974 and Aloha Stadium in 1975...
in the World Football League
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
before joining the NFL. Weese spent four seasons in the NFL playing for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1976-1979), mostly as a backup quarterback.
In Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, where his famed high school head coach Bobby Nuss held the chains, Weese replaced starter Craig Morton
Craig Morton
Larry Craig Morton is a former professional football player. He played quarterback in the National Football League for 18 seasons, 1965-82...
in the third quarter after Morton nearly threw his 5th interception. Weese led the Broncos to a touchdown on the drive to cut his team's deficit to 20-10, but he lost a fumble in the fourth quarter, setting up a Dallas touchdown that put the game away. Weese was known for being a mobile QB.
Weese was named starting
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
quarterback for the Broncos in 1979, but a knee injury that year ended his NFL career. He finished his career with 1887 passing yards, seven touchdowns and fourteen interceptions. Weese went on to become a Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
.
Norris Weese died on January 20, 1995, of bone cancer.
He was survived by his wife, Sandy; his daughters, Melissa and Andrea, and his son, Jacob.