According to the Associated Press on February 6, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen of Wilmington, North Carolina passed away at the age of 91. Jurgensen was a five-time Pro Bowler who won the National Football League Championship with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1960, seven years before the very first Super Bowl.
Jurgensen played with two professional football franchises in the National Football League. He was with the Eagles for seven seasons from 1957 to 1963, and 11 seasons with the Washington Redskins from 1964 to 1974. The Redskins are now known as the Washington Commanders.
Overall, Jurgensen played 218 games in the NFL. He completed 2433 passes in 4263 attempts for 32224 passing yards, and 255 touchdown passes. Jurgensen also had 189 interceptions, 18 fourth quarter comebacks and 14 game winning drives.
In the 1960s, you could make the argument that Jurgensen was one of the best National Football League quarterbacks throughout the decade. Five times from 1961 to 1969, Jurgensen led the league in completions. He also led the NFL five times in passing yards, and twice led the NFL in touchdown passes. Jurgensen’s 31 touchdown passes in 1967 were a Washington Redskins/Commanders record.
Jurgensen played his college football at Duke University. The school today is better known for their basketball program than their football program. He was selected in the fourth round, 43rd overall, in the 1957 NFL Draft.
After his professional football career was over, Jurgensen was a television and radio analyst for the Washington football team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and had his number nine retired in 2022.
