WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Wilmington native Sonny Jurgensen, one of the most prominent Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Washington football history, has died at 91.
Jurgensen grew up in Wilmington and attended New Hanover High School, where he played football, basketball and baseball under coaches Leon Brogden and Jap Davis, according to the Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame.
He attended Duke University and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957, according to the Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame.
Jurgensen was elected to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1974, the Duke University Hall of Fame in 1978 and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983. He was inducted into the Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
In 2007, New Hanover High School dedicated the Legion Stadium field to Jurgensen.
“He could change speeds on the ball like a baseball pitcher—even throw a screwball,” said former teammate Sam Huff. “He was just so wonderful to watch—some quarterbacks could throw a great short pass, some were good with the long ball, but very few could do both—Sonny could.”
A Washington Commanders spokesperson confirmed to the Associated Press on Friday that the team learned of his death from Jurgensen’s family.
Jurgensen remains the only Washington player to wear the No. 9 jersey in a game.
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