Hall of Fame quarterback, Wilmington native Sonny Jurgensen dies at age 91
(AP/WWAY) — Sonny Jurgensen, the Hall of Fame quarterback whose strong arm, keen wit and affable personality made him one of the most beloved figures in Washington football history, has died. He was 91.
A Washington Commanders spokesperson confirmed Friday the team learned of Jurgensen’s death that morning from his family.
Jurgensen was born and raised in the Port City. arrived in Washington in 1964 in a surprise quarterback swap that sent Norm Snead to the Philadelphia Eagles. Over the next 11 seasons, Jurgensen rewrote the team’s record books.
He topped 3,000 yards in a season five times, including twice with Philadelphia, in an era before rules changes opened up NFL offenses. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and remains the only Washington player to wear the No. 9 jersey in a game.
Jurgenson played football, baseball and basketball at New Hanover in the early 1950s under legendary coaches Leon Brogden and Jap Davis. He went on to Duke University and a Hall of Fame career in the NFL as a quarterback for the Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jurgensen was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1971, the Duke Sports Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983. He was also among the inaugural class of the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2007 New Hanover High School named the field at Legion Stadium after Jurgensen and fellow standout quarterback Roman Gabriel.
