Legendary Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen died in Naples, Fla., on Friday morning, while in hospice care. He was 91. One of the original gun-slinging quarterbacks, he paved the way for other “Mad Bombers” like the New York Jets’ Joe Namath, the Oakland Raiders’ Darryl Lamonica, and the San Diego Chargers’ QB John Hadl. Jurgensen’s NFL playing career spanned 18 seasons, seven with the Philadelphia Eagles and the last 11 with the then Washington Redskins.
After his playing days were over, he joined Washington’s radio broadcast team and spent 38 years as an analyst before retiring in 2018. He was recognized for his prowess on the field with his 1983 induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Sonny Jurgensen’s Career Highlights
Jurgensen was born in Wilmington, N.C., and played collegiate football at Duke University. He was selected by the Eagles in the fourth round of the 1957 NFL Draft. He backed up Eagles’ starting quarterbacks Bobby Thomason in 1957 and Norm Van Brocklin from 1958 through 1960 before taking the reins of the position at the start of the 1961 season.
Jurgenson was the Eagles’ starter for three seasons. He led the NFL in passing yards in both 1961 and 1962. In 1961, he threw for 3,723 yards (then an NFL record) with 32 touchdowns (tying John Unitas’ record at the time). For his efforts that season, he was named to his first Pro Bowl and to the NFL’s first-team All-Pro team. In 1962, he threw for 3,261 yards and 22 touchdowns.
After the 1963 season, in a blockbuster trade, the Eagles traded Jurgensen to Washington for quarterback Norm Snead and cornerback Claude Crabb. Sonny continued his dominance with his new team, earning four more Pro Bowl berths.
In 1967, Jurgensen broke his own passing-yard record with 3,747 yards and also set the NFL season records for attempts (508) and completions (288). In 1969, in one of the highlights of his career, playing under Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, he led Washington to its first winning season (7-5-2) in fifteen years. In the latter stage of his career, he would split playing time with Bill Kilmer.
In 1974, at age 40 and in his final season, Jurgensen won his third NFL passing crown, while still splitting time with Kilmer. In the final game of his career, Jurgensen came off the bench to make his only postseason appearance in the Redskins’ 19–10 first-round loss to the Los Angeles Rams. In addition to his membership in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Jurgensen was inducted into the Commanders’ Ring of Honor and the Eagles’ Hall of Fame.
Remembering Sonny
Commanders’ owner Josh Harris had this to say in announcing Jurgensen’s death. “Sonny Jurgensen is, and always will be, one of the defining legends of Washington football. He was a brilliant leader, Hall of Fame quarterback, and had one of the best arms the game has ever seen. After his career on the field, Sonny’s voice became a fixture of Washington Sundays for decades, shaping the way generations of fans experienced the game.”
Sonny Jurgensen is survived by his wife, Margo, and sons Greg, Scott, Erik, and Gunnar.
