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Sonny Jurgensen

Sonny Jurgensen (birth name Christian Adolph Jurgensen III) (born August 23, 1934) is a famed American football quarterback.

Jurgensen grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and played quarterback for Duke University and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957. He played backup to Norm Van Brocklin for 4 years, winning an NFL title in 1960. In 1964, he was traded to the Washington Redskins in exchange for quarterback Norm Snead .

Jurgensen was famed for his strong passing arm, but the Redskins overall weak offense prevented him from gaining a championship with that franchise. He did win the NFL passing titles in 1967 and 1969. Jurgensen did not play in Super Bowl VII, when Washington lost to the Miami Dolphins; Billy Kilmer started. Jurgensen's sole playoff game with the Redskins was a loss to the Los Angeles Rams, 19-10, in 1974.

Jurgensen wore jersey number 9. Although the Redskins do not have an official policy of retiring player numbers, no Redskin since him has worn that number in a regular season game.

Shortly after retiring as the Redskins' quarterback in 1974, Jurgensen began another career as an sports announcer, teaming with Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Huff and Washington broadcaster Frank Herzog to cover Redskins football.

Jurgensen lives in Mount Vernon, Virginia.



Last updated: 05-03-2005 17:50:55