NFL world, Commanders' fans, others react to Sonny Jurgensen's death

[ASFN Admin]

Friday was a sad day for the Washington Commanders, Washington fans, and the NFL. Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen passed away at the age of 91.

Jurgensen entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick in the 1957 NFL Draft. After spending his first seven NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, he was traded to Washington on April 1, 1964, and the rest is history. Sonny played 11 seasons for the Redskins before retiring after the 1974 season. He would enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

While Jurgensen played 11 seasons for Washington, it was his work in the broadcast booth that endeared him to future generations of Redskins fans. Jurgensen, along with Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Huff and the legendary Frank Herzog, were the voices of Washington's radio broadcast for decades.

As expected, many Washington fans and media members shared positive memories of Jurgensen on Friday. While many weren't alive to see him play, Jurgensen's time in the broadcast booth enhanced his legendary status with fans. Jurgensen was a part of Washington's broadcast booth until 2019.

Here are numerous reactions to Jurgensen's passing and how he impacted so many fans and others.

Kevin Sheehan of Team 980​

Legend. RIP. https://t.co/7t9h1vHOFf

— Kevin Sheehan (@kevinsheehanDC) February 6, 2026

Doc Walker​

Doc Walker recounts what it was like meeting Sonny Jurgenson for the first time. #Washington#Redskins#Commanders#Football#NFLpic.twitter.com/BTjUmCwele

— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) February 6, 2026

Former Washington play-by-play announcer Larry Michael​

Broadcasting Redskins games with Sonny and Sam was unforgettable for Larry Michael. So many stories and so much laughter. #Redskins#NFL#Broadcasting#FootballLegends#SonnyJurgensen#SamHuffpic.twitter.com/lq9gorJXS6

— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) February 6, 2026

John Riggins​

#9 pic.twitter.com/o5dwN9KeeL

— John Riggins (@riggo44) February 6, 2026

Danny Rouhier of 106.7 The Fan​

RIP to an absolute legend. https://t.co/PnUn9Q6E9G

— Danny Rouhier (@funnydanny) February 6, 2026

Mark Moseley Jr.​

Sonny’s last year and my dad’s first year in Washington. 91 great years and what a long career he had. He sure did love his cigars. Was always great to me over the years. pic.twitter.com/EWLw1Um4LC

— Mark Moseley Jr (@MarkMoseley3) February 6, 2026

Chuck Sapienza​

One of the highlights of my life was being able to work with Sonny Jurgensen for almost a decade. Working along side of him was amazing, being able to call him a friend was an honor. Rest in Peace #9. pic.twitter.com/3BFJyfqVwL

— Chuck Sapienza (@chucksapienza) February 6, 2026

Sonny Jurgensen story:
Dec 2014, my boss cut our per diem for NY trip & told me to have staff eat fast food. I told Sonny & he said “tell him I want to eat with you & you can’t take me for fast food.” I texted Sonny what we were eating & he texted my boss thanking him for dinner pic.twitter.com/wzltRV3Pfw

— Chuck Sapienza (@chucksapienza) February 6, 2026

Eric Bickel from the Sports Junkies​

Really sorry to hear about Sonny passing. He was such a legend that when my dad was very sick I took him to his last Skins game & into the booth to listen to Sonny, Sam & Larry. The guys were so kind. My dad LOVED it. He loved listening to them during games. RIP #9

— Steak/Sauna/Parlay King (@EBJunkies) February 6, 2026

JP Finlay of 106.7 The Fan​

TOUCHDOWN WASHINGTON REDSKINS https://t.co/cMpVtxOzQR

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) February 6, 2026

Sonny Jurgensen resonates with so many generations of Washington fans obviously for his QB play, but for folks my age and younger, his work with George Michael on TV and his radio broadcasts are just as legendary. pic.twitter.com/0vC3pl8q4s

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) February 6, 2026

ESPN's John Keim with a nod to the late Rick Snider​

I guarantee one of the first people to greet Sonny in heaven is @Snide_Remarks. Was his childhood hero -- like many in Washington. I loved getting to know Sonny and being able to talk to him over the years. Gracious with his time and knowledge. So much fun on the radio.

— John Keim (@john_keim) February 6, 2026

Pro Football Hall of Fame​

Pro Football Hall of Famer Sonny Jurgensen passed away early Friday morning, his family said. Enshrined in 1983, Jurgensen was 91. https://t.co/mADrm0T2fwpic.twitter.com/M10umGjH2a

— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) February 6, 2026

The Pro Football Hall of Fame flag outside the museum will be flown at half-staff in Sonny Jurgensen's honor.

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) February 6, 2026

Commanders​

We mourn the passing of the legendary Sonny Jurgensen

Our hearts are with Sonny’s family and loved ones pic.twitter.com/PFtg3gnJwT

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) February 6, 2026

Minority owner Mark Ein​

Sonny Jurgensen was one of my first sports heroes and the reason I wore #9 on all my sports teams as a kid. Meeting him was one of the best memories of our first game as owners two years ago. RIP to a hero and a legend pic.twitter.com/cnoLuazuR1

— Mark Ein (@Markein) February 6, 2026

Ben Standig​

Behind-the-back passing in live action? No biggie for Christian Adolph "Sonny" Jurgensen III.pic.twitter.com/NOkRSswd2S

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) February 6, 2026

Al Galdi​

RIP Sonny Jurgensen. Legendary quarterback. Legendary analyst. Maybe the single greatest icon in Redskins history. And beyond that, he was a nice person.

— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) February 6, 2026

Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan​

A few thoughts on the passing of Sonny Jurgenson ...

1) Growing up watching the Redskins with my mom -- she was the reason I was a massive fan as a toddler -- she would always tell me stories about him. Every time Washington was about to lose a game, and that happened a lot,…

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) February 6, 2026

Sonny. Sam. And Frank.

IYKYK

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) February 6, 2026

Larry Brown​

Sonny Jurgensen was one of the greatest to ever line up behind center.

More importantly, he was a great teammate and a good friend. I’m grateful I got to share the field and the locker room with him. He’s going to be missed.

My heartfelt condolences to the family of Sonny. pic.twitter.com/oB7rC3p9JG

— Larry Brown (@LarryBrown43) February 6, 2026

More reactions​

Show this video whenever people try to disrespect the skill level of players from the past.

Sonny Jurgensen was that dude. Rest in peace.pic.twitter.com/OB2SjStjDJ

— Mike Kennedy (@MikeKennedyNFL) February 6, 2026

Sonny Jurgensen goes behind-the-back for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1961 College All-Star Game in Chicago.

RIP Sonny ️ pic.twitter.com/cOyIkjSHtD

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 6, 2026

This is one of the most iconic sports photos of all time. Billy Kilmer replacing Sonny at QB for good. Sonny tore his Achilles. You can see Kilmer looking down at it. pic.twitter.com/BCL6muzMbT

— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) February 6, 2026

"I'm George Michael with Sonny Jurgensen, Jim, Wendy, it's been a pleasure working with you these years, we're out of time "

@JPFinlayNBCS@dckerNBC4@lindsayczarniak@DanHelliepic.twitter.com/We35IllCbA

— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) February 6, 2026

I had only two jerseys of the burgundy & gold #43 and this one. RIP Christian Adolf Surgensen. #Sonnypic.twitter.com/KTQfFluUGi

— Chick Hernandez (@MrChickSports) February 6, 2026

RIP Sonny Jurgensen, the last surviving member of one of the most prolific, yet underappreciated offenses in NFL history.

Also, a good time to finally put Jerry Smith into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1960s Redskins #RaiseHail#HTTR
️ pic.twitter.com/nTfKAPQJaQ

— Olafimihan Oshin (@olafimihanoshin) February 6, 2026

Even more reactions​

Rest in Peace, Sonny Jurgensen ️

A longform tribute to the legendary Philadelphia #Eagles' and Washington #Redskins' Hall of Fame quarterback pic.twitter.com/snWcIENYFS

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 6, 2026

It was one of the gifts I’ve been given in this business to know Sonny Jurgensen. pic.twitter.com/ag6gfP6sLa

— thom loverro (@thomloverro) February 6, 2026

You can’t tell the story of the Washington Redskins without Sonny Jurgensen.

He’s an all-time Skins legend.

You put him on the Mount Rushmore of Redskins players. pic.twitter.com/fag285O5ZZ

— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) February 6, 2026

Growing up my dad and grandpa told me endless stories of Sonny Jurgensen. He was my dad’s favorite player ever. Rest in Paradise, Sonny. Hail to a Redskins legend. https://t.co/41ViB07pqY

— DC Sports (@_mattschoen_) February 6, 2026

Rest in peace Sonny. He was just before my age of understanding as a kid. And I somehow missed having any real media encounters with him, which is entirely my bad luck. As everyone who knew him says, he was a beaut. Redskin royalty, and the magic sauce of the greatest NFL radio…

— Steve Czaban (@czabe) February 6, 2026

Rest in Peace to ol’ Sonny. I wish my father could have seen this photo. He would have just been beaming. #RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/NuI7r8LCfl

— Paul Nichols - Sports Artist (@PaulNicholsArt) February 6, 2026

In my first year on the beat, myself and a couple other reporters went to the PR room in a Tampa hotel to pick up our credentials. Late in the season. After a few minutes, Sonny Jurgensen, Billy Kilmer and former Redskins equip mgr Tommy McVean walked in.

— John Keim (@john_keim) February 6, 2026

"Jurgensen is a great quarterback. He hangs in there under adverse conditions. He may be the best the league has ever seen. He is the best I have seen. If we would have had Sonny Jurgensen in Green Bay, we'd never have lost a game." - Vince Lombardi pic.twitter.com/HxMaF1eNjC

— Hot Take Freddie (@HotTakeFreddie) February 6, 2026

Oh no. Sonny was the reason I became a Redskins/Commanders fan. One of the very few athletes I idolized as not only a player, but his work in radio and TV as well. My wife used to say Sonny was the only person I never disagreed with.

It is a sad day. Rest In Peace, No. 9... https://t.co/Ai7RgIqMMi

— Dave Scarangella (@DaveScarangella) February 6, 2026

Sonny was different !

pic.twitter.com/V0WyRR81uB

— Will Blackmon (@WillBlackmon) February 6, 2026

So long Sonny pic.twitter.com/ZgPZsGt7Z8

— Goat Jerseys (@GoatJerseys) February 6, 2026

RIP Sonny pic.twitter.com/rfDmZ5gMfZ

— All-Pro Reels (@allproreels) February 6, 2026

Sonny Jurgensen's swagger was off the charts

Fantastic obit from Leonard Shapiro pic.twitter.com/iSoYewJiNu

— Eric Kay (@ekaycbs) February 6, 2026

The NFL Has Lost A Legend RIP Sonny Jurgensen He Will Definitely Be Missed. He Was A Great QB. pic.twitter.com/K1469mSfq1

— Jacob Caldera (@oneinaminion77) February 6, 2026

"The greatest player in the history of the Redskins franchise." Kevin Sheehan on the legacy of Sonny Jurgensen. pic.twitter.com/aA8VR3umJ8

— The Team 980 (@team980) February 6, 2026

It's no surprise that Sonny Jurgensen, the pinnacle of peak male performance, made it to 91 https://t.co/iQ5vRoeSijpic.twitter.com/RoBbGu23vs

— America's Nomad Nero Beach Bum edition (@Adventure_Nero) February 6, 2026

No player in the modern history of the team ever captured the imagination and admiration of the team's fans as Sonny did. He had a pot belly and ran, as he put it, "like a girl." But those tight spirals he threw were things of beauty. RIP. https://t.co/1CKxqiL3kW

— Brit Hume (@brithume) February 6, 2026

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Remembering the legendary Sonny Jurgensen

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