Feb. 6, 2026, 11:30 a.m. ET
One of the greatest players and figures in the history of the Washington Redskins, quarterback Sonny Jurgensen, has died at 91.
A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Jurgensen entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick from Duke in the 1957 NFL Draft. After spending his first seven seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, he was traded to the Redskins on April 1, 1964, for Norm Snead and Claude Crabb. Jurgensen would spend the final 11 seasons of his NFL career with the Redskins.
During his NFL career, here are some of Jurgensen’s accomplishments:
1960 NFL champion2-time first-team All-Pro2-time second-team All-Pro5-time Pro Bowler5-time NFL passing yards leaderNFL 1960s All-Decade TeamPhiladelphia Eagles Hall of FameWashington Commanders Ring of FameJurgensen’s No. 9 jersey is retired by Washington
After his playing career ended, Jurgensen entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 1983. He’s also a member of the Duke Sports Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
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Jurgensen joined the Redskins’ radio broadcasting team in 1981 and served in that role until 2018. For many years, Jurgensen was joined in the broadcast booth by fellow Hall of Famer Sam Huff and the legendary Frank Herzog.
The Commanders released the following statement:
“Sonny Jurgensen is, and always will be, one of the defining legends of Washington football,” the team said in a statement. “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.”
Jurgensen’s family released the following statement:
No players wore Jurgensen’s famous No. 9 jersey for years, and the team officially retired it in 2022.