Feb. 6, 2026, 3:16 p.m. ET

Sonny Jurgensen, former Washington Redskins quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer, died this morning, February 6, 2026. He was 91.

In a strange way, I feel another significant part of my childhood is now gone. My first memories of the Washington Redskins were the 1969 season, those helmets with the spear, Vince Lombardi coaching, and Sonny as the quarterback. Sonny was my first favorite athlete when I was a little boy growing up in a tiny northern Virginia town, Berryville, VA.

Some of you might ask, “How good was Sonny Jurgensen?”

Well, for starters, Sonny didn’t merely lead the NFL in a passing statistic here or there. No, Sonny led the NFL in passing yards per game and total passing yards in five seasons! How good would a quarterback have to be to lead the NFL for those statistics, not one, not two, but five seasons?

In the 1960s, Jurgensen played on teams that had, for the most part, very poor defenses. The Redskins couldn’t stop most teams back then. So, being behind, Sonny had to throw a lot, and those were the years when the NFL rules did not favor the offense as they do today.

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He led the NFL in completions in four seasons. Jurgensen had nine seasons in the top 10 in passing yards and completed passes. Sonny had 10 seasons in the top 10 in NFL touchdown passes. Jurgensen racked up eight seasons in the top 10 in yards per passing attempt and comeback wins. Ole No. 9 once held the NFL record for most completions in a season (288) in 1967, which shows you how much the game has changed over the last 50 years.

Was Sonny the greatest Redskins passer? Well, did you know that despite the NFL rules favoring the passing game much more today, and the NFL expanding its season to 16 games in 1978, and 17 games in 2021, no Washington quarterback has passed for 30 touchdowns in a season since Sonny threw 31 touchdown passes in 1967? 1967! That is approaching 60 NFL seasons!

When George Allen became the head coach of the Redskins in 1971, he mandated a much more conservative offense. This also coincided with Sonny beginning to get injured. In 1971, it was a broken shoulder in the preseason, followed by an Achilles tendon tear in 1972. Finally, there was a good defense to support Sonny, but injuries and George Allen’s preference for Billy Kilmer kept Sonny out of the lineup much of his final four seasons (1971-74). In those last four seasons, when Sonny was given the opportunity, Sonny (though ages 37-40) still displayed the talent to get the job done. So much so, the Redskins went 11-2 in the games Sonny started.

At 40, Jurgensen retired after the 1974 season concluded, quickly hired by CBS TV to broadcast NFC games, working with announcers Lindsey Nelson, Vin Scully and Pat Summerall.

In the Washington area, Sonny was hugely popular working for WTOP TV 9 and later WRC TV 4, providing Redskins analysis. He also co-hosted “Redskins Sidelines,” a Monday night television show during the regular season, first with Warner Wolf and then Glenn Brenner.

In 1981, Sonny chose to leave CBS broadcasting to join the Redskins radio broadcast team of Frank Herzog and fellow Hall of Famer Sam Huff. It was a huge success, as the three worked together on games through the 2003 season.

Herzog, now 81, fondly remembers working with Sonny, and telling Commanders Wire, “First and foremost, in the beginning I was a fan, and I learned to admire Sonny greatly not only as a quarterback but for his knowledge of the game. There are a thousand stories I could tell you about our time together as broadcasters, both with the Redskins and college basketball (Maryland Men’s Basketball). He was the most competitive person I ever met, and his word was as good as gold.”

Former Redskins tight end Chris Cooley would replace Huff to work with Jurgensen on the radio broadcasts. Cooley at Sonny’s retirement from radio said, “Sonny is honest, and I love that about him. He never took himself too seriously.”

Larry Michael, who replaced Herzog in 2004, has remained in touch with Sonny and his family over the years. “It’s a tough day for many of us, not only losing a close friend, but a hero as well. Sonny’s football accomplishments are documented, but he was also a Hall of Famer in life. He loved his family. He loved his friends and I can tell you personally, that over the years, he became a very close friend who I will miss the rest of my life.”

Sonny’s death reminds us that death is a final foe, a sting for all of us. However, Jesus promised that through his sinless life and victory over death and the grave, he brings safe passage to his presence for those trusting their future in his hands.

May you rest in peace, Sonny Jurgensen