Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen passed away Friday at the age of 91, his family announced.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our husband, father, and grandfather, Sonny Jurgensen,” Jurgensen’s family stated. “We are enormously proud of his amazing life and accomplishments on the field, marked not only by a golden arm, but also a fearless spirit and intellect that earned him a place among the greats in Canton.”
A former Duke Blue Devil whom the Eagles chose in the fourth round of the 1957 draft, Jurgensen evolved into one of the greatest signal-callers in the history of the sport. After serving as a backup over his first four seasons, including to fellow Hall of Famer Norm Van Brocklin during Philadelphia’s championship-winning campaign in 1960, Jurgensen became a full-time starter in 1961.
In his first year leading the Eagles’ offense, Jurgensen broke through with league highs in completions (235), yards (3,723) and touchdown passes (32). He earned his first of four All-Pro selections and his first of five Pro Bowl nods that season.
Jurgensen again led the league in passing in 1962, but the Eagles spiraled to a 3-10-1 record after going 10-4 the previous year. The team posted another dismal record of 2-10-2 in 1963, including a 1-6-1 mark in Jurgensen’s starts, and traded him to Washington for quarterback Norm Snead and defensive back Claude Crabb in the ensuing offseason.
The move to Washington rejuvenated Jurgensen, who played his last 11 seasons with the team formerly known as the Redskins. He spent his first seven seasons in Washington as a starter. Jurgensen went to four Pro Bowls and led the league in passing three times during that span. He wound down his career as Billy Kilmer‘s backup from 1971-74 before retiring at the age of 40.
Jurgensen, who became a member of Washington’s Ring of Fame, ranks second in franchise history to Joe Theismann in completions, attempts, yards and touchdown passes. With 31 TD passes in 1961, he continues to hold the single-season franchise record 65 years later. The team retired his No. 9 in 2022.
“Sonny Jurgensen is, and always will be, one of the defining legends of Washington football,” Commanders owner Josh Harris said. “He was a brilliant leader, Hall of Fame quarterback, and had one of the best arms the game has ever seen. … Our hearts and prayers are with Sonny’s family, friends, and everyone who loved him.”
Also a member of the Eagles’ Hall of Fame, Jurgensen sits fifth on their all-time TD passes list. Despite playing during the pre-1978 “Dead Ball” era, Jurgensen ranks 26th all-time in TD tosses (255) and 51st in yards (32,224). He led all “Dead Ball” era QBs in passer rating (82.62). Jurgensen is a member of the 1960s All-Decade Team who earned enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983. He enjoyed a 38-year career as a broadcaster after he hung up his cleats.
One heck of a life. RIP Sonny, thanks for the memories.
RIP
Sonny Jurgensen
Hopefully, young football fans will watch him on Youtube and games/highlight collections on oldtimesports.net — Despite barely being over 6’foot tall, this guy could throw the football.
My fault … some biographies state he was just under 6’ft …
RIP to one of the best to ever do it and a guy who completely changed the QB position forever.
One heck of a long life well lived.
Loved him as an announcer. Too young to see his prime but those numbers are great for that era.
Everybody used to tell him his mechanics were bad , He did everything wrong and tried to change him. But all he did was sling the ball around and hit his receivers every time. Could put a football anywhere, Anytime. Lived it up in his youth there were a lot of stories but glad he lived to 91. Bet he could tell some stories. RIP
RIP Sir
I remember his later years in DC. Was crazy to see him throw a ball. Back then we saw him only a few times a year. With no NFL Team we got a few games a week. Only had 3-4 channels before cable. Was hard to keep up with all the teams back then. Had to do most of it through the Seattle Post Intelligencer. Read a few articles and go to the library to read SI. Family couldn’t afford that. I think it would be kind of fun to get some teenagers to have to comb through Encyclopedias newspapers and Magazines in the library to get the info they get now in 30 secs. I feel sorry at times for kids it is too easy. You got a sense of accomplishment doing it on your own.
These are the best stories to read from the times where being a fan meant that you had to go find the game, instead of waiting on the game to come to you. Hard work is just that-hard, and these guys touched it out for less pay and many fewer guarantees. It meant more to fans and to guys like Jorgensen, I’m sure. Thanks for sharing, compasserose. Times sure have changed.
Sonny was awesome. Guy could sling it. I only knew him through NFL Films things because I’m a little too young but seeing a paunchy Jurgensen, looking like he drank 12 beers the night before, zip the ball deep downfield was a thing of beauty.
It’s a sort of a Wade Boggs on an airplane with a girl from North Dakota dynamic, if you ask me.
Sonny was paid a salary of $14,000 in 1961 and had to find other jobs in the off season. By contrast Dak Prescott was paid $52,863 per snap last season.
May he RIP
I met Sonny once in 1993. Had a friend who was an audio engineer for WTEM 980 radio in DC back then, which was the AM station that broadcast Redskins’ games. He invited myself and another friend down (we were Jets fans from up North) for the weekend as he was working the Skins’ game vs the Jets on a Saturday in Dec. So we had the privilege of arriving at the old RFK stadium hours before kickoff to help him setup for the broadcast team.
That team, of course, was Sonny Jurgensen, Sam Huff and sadly, I forget the PbP guy’s name. But once it got closer to game time, Sonny and Sam showed up in the booth to prepare to go on air. Prior to that we were introduced to both former Skins’ legends and got to stand behind them as they broadcast the game. Both guys couldn’t have been nicer, and what a great honor it was to watch & listen to them call the game. I’ll never forget that day.
Unfortunately, the game was a disaster for both teams, but at least the Jets won in a real knockout, barn burner! Final score, 3-0. 😬
Cool story. I looked up the game and wow, what a snoozer. The field goal was five minutes into the game and then nothing the rest of the way.
RIP Sonny…..