Sonny Jurgensen, one of the most gifted pure passers the NFL has ever seen, has died at the age of 91, his family announced Friday.
Jurgensen’s legacy stretches across nearly two decades of football history, marked by precision passing, leadership, and an arm that helped redefine the quarterback position in his era. Drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Eagles out of Duke in 1957, Jurgensen entered the league as a backup to Norm Van Brocklin.
But it didn’t take long for him to make his mark. After watching from the sidelines as the Eagles captured the 1960 NFL Championship, Jurgensen took over the reins the following season-and wasted no time proving he belonged.
In 1961, his first full season as a starter, Jurgensen was named a first-team All-Pro, showcasing the kind of field vision and touch that would become his calling card. He was traded to Washington in 1964, a move that would define the second half of his career. There, he continued to light up defenses, earning second-team All-Pro honors in both 1967 and 1969.
Jurgensen’s passing numbers were ahead of their time. He led the league in passing yards five times-an achievement that speaks volumes in an era where the ground game still dominated most offensive schemes. By the time he hung up his cleats after the 1974 season, he had thrown for 32,224 yards, a total that still ranks him among the top 60 all-time.
But Jurgensen wasn’t just about the stats. He was a technician under center, a quarterback who could dissect defenses with a flick of the wrist and a deep understanding of the game.
His No. 9 jersey was retired by Washington, and he holds a place in both the team’s Ring of Fame and the Eagles’ Hall of Fame. In 1983, his contributions to the game were immortalized with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Sonny Jurgensen leaves behind a legacy that helped shape the modern passing game. He was one of those rare quarterbacks who made the difficult look effortless, and his impact on the sport is still felt today.