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mahatmakanejeeves

(68,940 posts) Fri Feb 6, 2026, 12:43 PM Feb 6

Sonny Jurgensen, one of Washington's greatest football players, dies at 91

Source: Washington Post

Sonny Jurgensen, one of Washington's greatest football players, dies at 91

In a Hall of Fame career, the Redskins quarterback was known as one the NFL's best pure passers. He later spent years as a broadcaster.

February 6, 2026 at 10:48 a.m. EST Today at 10:48 a.m. EST

Washington Redskins quarterback Sonny Jurgensen in 1973 (AP)

{snip}

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2026/02/06/sonny-jurgensen-dead-redskins-commanders/

The WaPo is being tight fisted with this story. The NYT has an obit. There aren't that many stories up right now.

I'll get a better source in a while.

6 replies

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Sonny Jurgensen, one of Washington's greatest football players, dies at 91 (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Feb 6 OP

I expect repotting from the WP will be rather threadbare EYESORE 9001 Feb 6 #1

They fired almost all of their sports staff, among others oberle Feb 6 #4

FB was much different back then. He was great. twodogsbarking Feb 6 #2

I remember him; an excellent quarterback. patphil Feb 6 #3

Actually, it's a 17-game season now. And Sonny played for the Redskins when they had a chronically poor running game. generalbetrayus Feb 6 #5

We used to mute the TV and listen to Sonny and Sam on the radio Jean-Luc Feb 6 #6

EYESORE 9001

(29,559 posts)

1. I expect repotting from the WP will be rather threadbare

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Feb 6, 2026, 01:10 PM

Feb 6

until it gets new ownership. I’m not big on sports, but even I had heard of Sonny Jorgensen. Is Bezos trying to tank the publication altogether?

oberle

(327 posts)

4. They fired almost all of their sports staff, among others

Reply to EYESORE 9001 (Reply #1)

Fri Feb 6, 2026, 04:36 PM

Feb 6

twodogsbarking

(18,147 posts)

2. FB was much different back then. He was great.

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Feb 6, 2026, 01:21 PM

Feb 6

patphil

(8,887 posts)

3. I remember him; an excellent quarterback.

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Feb 6, 2026, 03:21 PM

Feb 6

At one point he held the record for most passing yards in a season (3723), and tied the record for most touchdown passes in a season (32).
That was in 1961; a 14 game season, now it's 16 games.
Adjusted for a 16 game season, that would be 4255 yards passing, and 36 touchdown passes.
It should be noted that the percentage of passing plays in a game is higher now than it was in 1961. The game was more of a balance between rushing and passing back then than it is now.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Jurgensen

generalbetrayus

(1,654 posts)

5. Actually, it's a 17-game season now. And Sonny played for the Redskins when they had a chronically poor running game.

Reply to patphil (Reply #3)

Fri Feb 6, 2026, 04:52 PM

Feb 6

He set many of those (at the time) passing records out of necessity. Without him and his outstanding corps of receivers, the Redskins would have been lucky to win more than a game or two each season. RIP, Sonny.

Jean-Luc

(3 posts)

6. We used to mute the TV and listen to Sonny and Sam on the radio

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Fri Feb 6, 2026, 06:23 PM

Feb 6

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