Sonny Jurgensen

Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, played with the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles[14]

What is Sonny Jurgensen known for?

Christian Adolph "Sonny" Jurgensen III, an American former professional football player, was born on August 23, 1934, in Wilmington, North Carolina. A proud product of New Hanover High School, Jurgensen was a versatile athlete, playing a variety of positions on the football team, and excelling in baseball and basketball in his senior year.

From high school, Jurgensen went on to play college football at Duke and was drafted into the NFL in 1957 as the 43rd pick in the 4th round. He spent a remarkable 18 seasons in the NFL, primarily playing as a quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles (1957-1963) and the Washington Redskins (1964-1974). Jurgensen's skill on the field led him to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

Over his career, Sonny Jurgensen's impressive stats include 4,262 pass attempts, 2,433 pass completions, and a completion percentage of 57.1%. He made 255 touchdowns, 189 interceptions, and amassed 32,224 passing yards, with a passer rating of 82.6.

Looking at his accolades, it's clear that Sonny was an exceptional player. He was an NFL champion in 1960, a first team All-Pro in 1961, and a second-team All-Pro in 1966, 1967, and 1969. He was a five-time Pro Bowl pick (1961, 1964, 1966, 1967, and 1969), a frequent NFL passing yards leader (1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1969), an NFL passing touchdowns leader (1961, 1967), and the NFL passer rating leader in 1967. He was also recognized as the NFL completion percentage leader in 1970. Additional honors include being named to the NFL 1960s All-Deco Team, being inducted into the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame, the Washington Commanders Ring of Fame, and having the Washington Commanders retire his No. 9 jersey.

After football, Jurgensen found a second career as a color commentator for Washington's radio broadcast crew. His storied career and his contributions to football live on through records and awards, standing as a testament to his legacy.

For more specific details about Jurgensen's achievements, stats, and his contributions to football, check out his profiles on NFL.com and Pro Football Reference.