Jurgensen, "Sonny" (Christian A. III)
Football
b. Aug. 23, 1934, Wilmington, NC
Perhaps the greatest quarterback who never started for an NFL champion team, Jurgensen starred at Duke University before joining the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles in 1957. He was a backup to Norm Van Brocklin for four seasons, including 1960, when the Eagles won the league title.
He took over as Philadelphia's starter in 1961, after Van Brocklin retired, and had a sensational year, passing for a record 3,723 yards and tying the NFL record with 32 touchdown passes.
A series of injuries limited his playing time in 1963 and the Eagles traded him to the Washington Redskins the following season. In 1967, Jurgensen broke his own record by passing for 3,747 yards and he also set NFL records for attempts, 508, and completions, 288. He was the league's passing champion.
He missed much of the 1968 season because of broken ribs and elbow surgery, but won the passing championship again in 1969. Injuries again bothered him in 1971 and 1972, and for his last two seasons in Washington he was Billy Kilmer's backup, but he played in a number of games.
The 1974 Redskins got into the playoffs by tying for first place in the Eastern Division. Jurgensen relieved Kilmer in the Washington's 19-10 first-round loss to the Los Angeles Rams, completing 6 of 12 passes but throwing 3 interceptions. It was his last game and the first playoff game in which he'd ever appeared.
The All-Pro quarterback in 1961 and 1969, Jurgensen played in 5 Pro Bowls. During his career, he completed 2,433 of 4,262 passes for 32,224 yards and 255 touchdowns. He also rushed for 493 yards and 15 touchdowns.