In a different era of NFL — when it was essentially just in its infancy — few players stood as tall as Washington quarterback Sonny Jurgensen.
Jurgensen’s family announced on Friday that the Pro Football Hall of Famer died at 91 years old, followed by a statement from Commanders owner Josh Harris.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our husband, father and grandfather, Sonny Jurgensen,” Jurgensen’s family wrote on the Commanders’ official website. “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 legends in Canton. But to those of us who knew him beyond the stadium lights, he was the steady, humorous, and deeply loving heart of our family. He lived with deep appreciation for the teammates, colleagues, and friends he met along the way. While he has taken his final snap, his legacy will remain an indelible part of the city he loved and the family he built.”
Jurgensen was a 5-time Pro Bowler, 4-time NFL All-Pro and led the NFL in passing 5 times. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1957 to 1963 followed by 11 seasons with Washington from 1964 to 1974.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and was a longtime broadcaster for Washington games following his playing career.
“Sonny Jurgensen is, and always will be, one of the defining legends of Washington football,” said Harris, who bought the team for $6 billion in 2023. “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. For me, Sonny was the embodiment of what it means to don the Burgundy and Gold: tough, smart, and endlessly devoted to this franchise and its fans. He was a giant of the game and a beloved part of our team’s identity. Our hearts and prayers are with Sonny’s family, friends, and everyone who loved him.”
Jurgensen 2-Way, 2-Sport Star at Duke Before NFL
Jurgensen, 5-foot-11 and 202 pounds, starred on both sides of the ball at Duke at quarterback and defensive back and was a 2-time All-ACC pick before the Eagles selected him in the fourth round of the 1957 NFL draft.
Jurgensen started off his NFL career with 5 seasons as a backup, first to Bobby Thomason for 1 season then 3 seasons behind Norm Van Brocklin, including on Philadelphia’s 1960 NFL Championship team.
In 1962, Jurgensen finally got a chance to start after Van Brocklin retired and earned NFL All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl honors as well as tying the NFL record with 32 touchdown passes in 1962.
He was traded to Washington before the 1964 season and responded by reeling off more NFL All-Pro years, including setting NFL records for passing yards (3,747 yards), completions (288) and attempts (508) in 1967.
“Hall-of-Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen, who has held franchise passing records for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders for more than five decades, has died at the age of 91,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on X on Friday.
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