Former All-American and Pro Football Hall of Famer Sonny Jurgensen Passes Away

DURHAM, N.C. – Former Duke football All-American Sonny Jurgensen passed away at the age of 91. After his Blue Devil career, Jurgensen became a four-time All-Pro, NFL champion and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

A native of Wilmington, North Carolina, Jurgensen lettered three seasons (1954-55-56) at Duke under Hall of Fame head coach Bill Murray. A three-year starter at quarterback, in addition to defensive back duties, Jurgensen helped the Blue Devils to a three-year record of 20-8-3 (.694) with two ACC championships, an appearance in the 1954 Orange Bowl and final national rankings in 1954 (Associated Press No. 14 & United Press International No. 14), 1955 (UPI No. 16) and 1956 (UPI No. 20).

As a senior in 1956, Jurgensen earned First Team All-ACC accolades and was an honorable mention All-America selection by the Associated Press as a defensive back. That season, he registered one interception as the Blue Devils held eight of 10 opponents to seven points or less. He also threw for 371 yards and two touchdowns as Duke's quarterback.

Jurgensen was a fourth round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957, the 43rd pick overall, who played 18 seasons with the Eagles (1957-63) and Washington franchise (1964-74) and appeared in 218 total games (83 with Philadelphia & 135 with Washington). He served as backup to Bobby Thompson (1957) and Norm van Brocklin (1958-60) in Philadelphia before taking starting role in 1961.

He was traded on April 1, 1964, from Philadelphia to Washington in exchange for quarterback Norm Snead and cornerback Claude Crabb. With Washington, he won five (1961, 1962, 1966, 1967 & 1969) NFL individual passing titles, led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice (1961 & 1967), in pass completions four times (1961, 1966, 1967 & 1969), in pass attempts three times (1966, 1967 & 1969) and in passer rating once (1967). He surpassed 3,000 passing yards in five seasons, 300 yards in 25 games and 400 yards in five games.

A five-time Pro Bowl pick (1961, 1964, 1966, 1967 & 1969), Jurgensen helped Philadelphia to the 1960 NFL championship and was a member of four playoff teams with the Redskins. His professional career included 18 fourth quarter comebacks and 14 game-winning drives.

He retired as the NFL's all-time leading passer, was named to the NFL's All-Decade team for the 1960s, was tabbed to the Eagles Honor Roll in 1987, is member of the Redskins Ring of Fame and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983. On June 13, 2002, he was selected as one of the 70 Greatest Redskins as the organization celebrated its 70th anniversary. He had professional No. 9 jersey retired by Washington on January 8, 2023, in a ceremony at FedEx Field.

Jurgensen is also a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame (1971), Duke Sports Hall of Fame (1979) and Orange Bowl Hall of Honor (2004).

Jurgensen is survived by Margo Hurt, his wife of nearly five decades, his four sons, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Former All-American and Pro Football Hall of Famer Sonny Jurgensen Passes Away

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