Sonny Jurgensen’s Hall of Fame career included 11 seasons with Washington (courtesy of the Washington Commanders)

Sonny Jurgensen, one of the NFL’s legendary passers and a Washington icon as a quarterback radio voice and analyst since 1964, passed away on Friday morning at the age of 91.

Jurgensen, enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, spent 11 seasons with the Redskins. The fan favorite and electric football thrower transitioned from player to analyst after his retirement in 1974, before becoming a fixture on the local radio broadcast in 1981, where he remained for 38 consecutive years.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our husband, father, and grandfather, Sonny Jurgensen,” the Jurgensen family said in a statement released Friday morning. “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.”

Sonny Jurgensen (courtesy of All Pro Reels)

The fourth-round selection out of Duke began his career with the Philadelphia Eagles. Washington acquired Jurgensen for Norm Snead and Claude Crabb in one of the league’s all-time one-sided trades. The Wilmington, North Carolina native was selected to the NFL’s 1960’s All-Decade team after leading the league in passing yards three times (1966, 1967, 1969). Jurgensen finished his career with 32,224 passing yards and 255 touchdowns.

For many fans, their connection with Jurgensen existed through his media career. Jurgensen, fellow HOF inductee Sam Huff, and radio play-by-play voice Frank Herzog broadcast all three of Washington’s Super Bowl victories under head coach Joe Gibbs. As a television commentator, Jurgensen called games for CBS in the 1970s but later became a trusted local analyst/cheerleader on WUSA’s “Redskins Sidelines” and, later, on NBC-4 with sports news anchor George Michael.

Commanders owner Josh Harris, a fan of the organization since his childhood days, issued a statement on Jurgensen’s passing.

“Sonny Jurgensen is, and always will be, one of the defining legends of Washington football,” Harris said. “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.”

This story will be updated.