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Washington Redskins safety Barry Wilburn.
The Washington Commanders are mourning the loss of one of their own.
Former NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl champion safety Barry Wilburn died on Sunday in a house fire in Memphis, which his family confirmed to Memphis Action News 5. Wilburn was 62 years old.
From Action 5 News: “The Memphis Fire Department responded to a reported residential structure fire on Douglass Avenue in Orange Mound at around 2am Friday morning. They found an unresponsive victim in the rear hallway. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A representative for the family has confirmed that Wilburn is the victim of the fire. MFD have yet to confirm the victim’s identity. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.”
The Commanders confirmed the tragic news in a written statement.
From the Commanders official X account: “We’re saddened to learn of the passing of former Washington All-Pro and Super Bowl XXII champion Barry Wilburn Sending our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
Son of Legendary Olympic Medal Winner
Wilburn came from a great family of athlete led by his mother, former Olympic track and field athlete Margaret Matthews, who won a bronze medal as part of Team USA’s 400-meter relay team in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. She was also the first American woman to hit 20 feet in the long jump.
Wilburn starred at Melrose High in Memphis before going on to play for Ole Miss. He was a fifth round pick (No. 219 overall) by Washington in the 1985 NFL Draft and earned NFL All-Pro honors in 1987 as he led the NFL in interceptions and led his team to a 42-10 win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII — a game in which Wilburn had 2 interceptions.
Wilburn played 5 seasons for Washington but he was released by the team after he tested positive for crack cocaine late in the 1989 season — his third positive test which resulted in a lifetime ban.
The NFL made the decision to reinstate Wilburn after sitting out 2 seasons. He played for the Cleveland Browns in 1992 then spent 2 years in the Canadian Football League, where he won a Grey Cup with the BC Lions.
He returned to the NFL for 3 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles from 1994 to 1996 then played his final season of pro football in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1999.
Outpouring of Support for Wilburn
There was an outpouring of support for Wilburn on social media following his death.
“Unsung part of team history, 2 Ints In SBXXII,” Every Redskins Ever wrote on its official X account. “Also a CFL Grey Cup champ, one of a few to do both.”
“RIP BARRY!” Commanders fan Calvin Coleman wrote on X. “Thanks for jump starting that last Super Bowl run with your pick six interception against the Vikings in that last regular season game.”
“RIP Barry,” Commanders fan Kev Hunter wrote on X. “I’ll never forget his 101 yd Int return against Minnesota in 87 thanks for the memories.”
Wilburn set the franchise record for the longest defensive touchdown with a 101-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16 of the 1987 regular season.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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