Justin Morrow

Justin Morrow (born October 4, 1987) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defender. Morrow is the executive director of Black Players for Change, which in 2020 won the MLS Humanitarian of the Year Award.

College and amateur career
Morrow attended Saint Ignatius High School, where he was an adidas/NSCAA high school All-American.

He played college soccer at the University of Notre Dame. He was a Big East Academic All-Star in both his sophomore and junior years as well as his team's captain during his senior season. He made 89 appearances and scored seven goals during his college career.

While in college, Morrow also played for the Indiana Invaders, the Cleveland Internationals, and the Chicago Fire Premier in the USL Premier Development League. During the 2009 season he helped the Fire to the 2009 PDL championship game.

San Jose Earthquakes
Morrow was drafted in the second round, 28th overall, of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes.

Morrow made his professional debut and scored his first goal on April 14, 2010, in a U.S. Open Cup game against Real Salt Lake. He made his MLS debut on May 1, 2010, against the Colorado Rapids.

After struggling to break in the first XI, Morrow was sent on loan to USSF Division 2 club FC Tampa Bay on September 7, 2010. He returned to the San Jose roster for the start of the 2011 season but was again loaned to FC Tampa Bay on July 14, 2011. This loan was short-lived as Morrow was recalled to San Jose on July 25, 2011.

Morrow broke out in 2012, starting 33 matches as the Earthquakes were surprise Supporters' Shield winners. He was named to his first All-Star game.

Toronto FC
He was traded to Toronto FC following the 2013 season. Toronto FC blog Waking the Red named Morrow the team's MVP for the 2014 season.

On December 10, 2016, following a 0–0 draw against Seattle Sounders FC in the 2016 MLS Cup Final at BMO Field, Morrow missed Toronto's sixth penalty in the resulting shoot-out, which allowed Román Torres to clinch the title for Seattle after netting the subsequent spot kick.

In the 2017 MLS regular season, Morrow scored his first career hat-trick in the club's 4–2 home win against New York Red Bulls on September 30, 2017, which earned Toronto FC their first ever Supporters' Shield.

On February 23, 2021, Morrow re-signed with Toronto FC.

On September 16, 2021, Toronto FC announced that Morrow will retire from professional soccer following the 2021 season. He played his final match on November 7, 2021, against D.C. United, being given the captain's armband for the match and substituted out in stoppage time to a standing ovation from the crowd.

International career
Following his successful 2012 MLS season, Morrow was called up to the national team for the first time. He started in a draw against Canada in a January 2013 friendly. He was an unused sub in two 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico in March 2013. Morrow would return to the national team in 2017, being named to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster. He would earn his second cap with the squad, starting and playing the full 90 minutes, in the U.S.'s second match of the tournament versus Martinique, which ended in a 3–2 win.

Honors
San Jose Earthquakes
 * Supporters' Shield: 2012

Toronto FC
 * MLS Cup: 2017; Runner-up 2016, 2019
 * Supporters' Shield: 2017
 * Canadian Championship: 2016, 2017, 2018; Runner-up 2019
 * CONCACAF Champions League: Runner-up 2018
 * Eastern Conference winners (playoffs): 2016, 2017, 2019

United States
 * CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2017

Individual
 * MLS All-Star: 2012
 * MLS Best XI: 2017
 * MLS Humanitarian of the Year Award: 2021