Sonny Jurgensen Highlights (Final Version)

I made the first version of this video in 2013 and decided it was time to make a better video. Sonny Jurgensen was the man with the "Golden Arm"; threw for over 32,000 yards and 255 touchdowns. Jurgensen was one of the best passers of all time; right up there with Dan Marino and Aaron Rodgers in terms of throwing ability. Sonny made the Hall of Fame despite winning zero championships (was a backup for the 1960 Eagles).

[@jemrecycling]

1971 or maybe 1972, Lustine Chevrolet in Hyattsville had an autograph session with Sonny and Billy Kilmer early on a Saturday morning. They were signing small plastic footballs. My dad brings myself and my younger brother to see them but there must have been almost a hundred people there and we're at the very back. My dad turns to me and says, "I don't know if we're going to get autographs today boys, Billy and Sonny look a little hungover". I talked my dad into getting up onto his shoulders and I yelled "Hey Sonny, throw me a spiral". Sunny points at me, and says " you ready kid" and throws the football and I catch it. Thrill of a lifetime for an 11-year-old kid to catch a pass from Sonny Jurgensen.

[@michaelnebehay3599]

Sonny still hanging out at the bar. My dad has lunch 3 days a week at a hole in the wall bar. Sonny usually comes in on Fridays, and sits in the corner booth next to their table. Everybody loves the guy. Total class act.

[@monkeypoosports3349]

Most underrated QB of all time. Dude woulda been good in any era.

[@Johnny_smathers]

Agreed hate to say it but his talent was wasted because our coach had his run heavy scheme and refused to rebuild the team around Sonny’s arm

[@scoo637]

@@Johnny_smathers Redskins didn't get him when he was young. He was about 30 when Philadelphia traded him to Washington.

[@toma.4808]

Well somebody recognized his greatness he's an nfl hofer.

[@skee19]

Hands down!!

[@robertharris4010]

I am 65 years old and when I was a teen Sonny made me love football. He was just the best .................

[@jonbeckleymorrisblues]

I'm 67, my best friend's Mother knew Sonny from North Carolina in Wilmington--I was proud to know someone that knew Sonny (and Roman Gabriel!) Sonny had his weekly T.V. show too. Yes, he was the greatest!

[@thevalentines6954]

Geese I never knew old people were on youtube

[@robertharris4010]

@@thevalentines6954 that’s what’s wrong with young people you don’t think………

[@jonbeckleymorrisblues]

@@thevalentines6954I've got a channel Jon Beckley Morris on KZbin mainly about harmonica, and I'm 67...you tube is Cool. Kinda like this ole Sonny, and Mrs. Sonny Bucks Ya either keep getting old in this life given us Or your clock stops. Then you're dead. Doesn't matter if you're liking KZbin, or not. Still...dead...💀

[@lbowsk]

Bingo. 65 as well. Loved watching The Skins back then. All the way up until snyder bought the team. Stopped watching them then.

[@Fernandolunatoro1]

Sonny had an incredible arm. One of the best passers ever!

[@sober041978]

" I root for Washington and I like Sonny!" Remember that bumper sticker? As a lifelong Wahingtonian/Alexandrian I want it noted that Sonny was always looked at as an unpretentious, regular guy. He may have been a star but he was a member of the community. He added much joy to Washington.

[@michaelnebehay3599]

He still is a regular guy. I see him a lot of Fridays at the same bar my dad has lunch at. Everybody loves him.

[@kfiscal01]

I remember going to RFK with dad who had season tickets. Just watching Sonny warm up was amazing! Behind the back passes, deep throws to Charlie Taylor and game time play. He was a wizard with a football, and tough as hell.

[@dirktyler3643]

Lombardi said that he may be the best ever quarterback. He also said that if he had had Jurgensen on Green Bay all those years they never would have lost a game. Kind of mean to Starr, but still very high praise for Sonny.

[@toma.4808]

Before 1980, sonny led the nfl in passing 5 times. Something no other qb can claim to do before 1980. Sonny is a legend

[@billmoyer3254]

Nobody had his level of skill. He was a passing machine!!

[@yusufu9]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONNY!!! August 23rd, and 89 orbits around the sun. Here's hoping you have many more healthy years to come! Thanks for all the great memories from your playing days!

[@thenations8352]

Thanks for the improved final version of this video, Duke. I'm a born & raised native of D.C., not far behind Sonny in age. Never missed the Skins' games when Sonny was with them. Have loved him for longer than I can remember, just like so many other died-in-the-wool Skins fans. I even post a birthday card to him every August. Your 12-minute video is one that I watch over and over and over....with a smile on my face and a tear in my eye for missing Sonny (and Billy, too) and the old days when football was football. Thanks for including the fight song, too - I still remember every word. Our seats in Kennedy stadium were just a few yards away from where the team band sat. Thanks again, Duke, for the work on the video.

[@rootsmanuva82]

Sonny Jurgensens' 255 career TD passes are only 18 behind Joe Montana's 273 and more than Steve Young (232), Kurt Warner (208), Troy Aikman (165).

[@douglasbell8408]

Marino threw more than 400 I think

[@logicaldude3611]

@@douglasbell8408 Yeah, over 20 years separated those two players. Sonny Jurgensen was the first guy to throw for big yards and big TDs on a long term basis. They just didn’t throw the ball like that back in the 60s, unless you had Jurgensen. He’s basically the earlier version of Marino, a guy who was so talented he was decades ahead of his time.

[@yusufu9]

This is great! Thanks so much for the expanded version! I do hope you have a two or three hour long documentary in the works to capture the full spectrum magic of Sonny throwing that football. Behind the back. Long, medium, and short. Bullets through tight coverage. Feathered aerials dropping over linebackers and defensive backs. Pocket passer supreme. Deadly accurate when passing on roll outs. Throwing perfect spirals while leaping in the air to rise above onrushing defensive linemen. Here's just one anecdote among many. After Sonny led the Redskins past the Eagles 27-24 in the 1973 season, connecting on 11 passes in row on the game-winning late drive, and playing basically on one leg, tackle Terry Hermeling offered this about the 39 yr old QB: "The guy is the most gifted man in the league. Give him time, let the defense play ball, and nobody can beat him."

[@obbor4]

Sonny and Snake Stabler were the two most accurate passers that I ever saw play. They both enjoyed a similar method of learning the game plan as well. By the light of the jukebox.

[@kirka5323]

Many of his interceptions were 3rd down bombs. He considered these just as good or better than a punt. He wasn't worried about stats.

[@JWD1992]

That's a great point. Not all picks are equally bad. Sometimes it's worth taking a deep shot (which could result in a big gain or score) and being ready to stop the return if it's picked.

[@tombryant52jumpscoach]

I love listening to Ray Didinger here. I saw Sonny Play. He was traded to Washington when I was 13 and living in Delaware County outside of Philly and at that time I wondered why we downgraded at quarterback from Sonny to Norm Snead. I learned to like Snead but still see that trade as a mistake.

[@deepcosmiclove]

Sonny was having too much fun. Trader Joe didn't like that.

[@rootsmanuva82]

I've heard of Sonny Jurgensen but never took the time to see his highlights. Wow. His touch was effortless and immaculate. His 255 career TD passes are only 18 behind Joe Montana and more than Steve Young, Kurt Warner, Troy Aikman.

[@dukewilson14]

Yeah his touch and accuracy were unmatched at the time. Up there with guys like Marino and Rodgers.

[@nikoflow_fm9541]

I’m much too young to know Sonny well. But my grandad (former fullback for Washington) met him once, which is cool. Throws shown here are amazing, he could be a starter in the modern era! 🤙🏻

[@ragnarlothbrok9133]

Sonny would have put up even more awesome numbers in a West Coast style of offense. Such great touch.

[@RoarOfWolverine]

Oh yeah, by today’s rules, Sonny and Charley Taylor (RIP) would have put up numbers that would be untouchable. Both are hall of famers for a reason. One of the most dangerous tandems ever. He was also dangerous throwing to Jerry Smith (RIP). Smith wasn’t a very good blocking TE because of his small size, but he mostly played as another receiver and Smith had great hands. Charley Taylor was probably the greatest wide receiver in the NFL. The only reason that guys like Steve Largent, Art Monk and Jerry Rice were able to eclipse his record of 649 career receptions was because of so many rule changes the NFL made in order to make games more exciting. All of those rules were to make offensive scoring easier to accomplish, because that’s what fans want. Defensive backs now have to play with one hand tied behind their backs. There was no bump and run in those days. You could maul the receiver all the way down the field, until the ball was in the air. That was the only time you couldn’t bump or tackle the receiver. Now you can check the receiver within he first five yards of scrimmage, any touching after that is going to get flagged as either interference or defensive holding. That’s why Taylor was a big guy who started his career as the running back. At 6’3” 209 lbs. he was big for a receiver, even in those days. He towered over most DBs and could catch anything Sonny threw over their heads. As time passes, no one will remember Sonny Jurgensen for the finest pure passer ever in the NFL. Dan Marino had a lot of Jurgensen’s gifts. A strong arm with total accuracy and a lightning release. Sonny could get rid of that ball quickly. There were so many times I knew he was sacked with the ball, but he’d get that ball out just as the defender could hit him. I wish we could have seen him play by today’s standards. With all the new rules protecting the QB that didn’t exist in his day, Sonny would light it up. Many new rule changes protecting the receivers too. With all of that, they would have had to track his stats by miles, not yards. Although his number has never been officially retired, no one on the Redskins has ever worn number 9 since. Since they are now The Commanders, no Redskin would ever wear his number.

[@ragnarlothbrok9133]

@@RoarOfWolverine Because until,Larry Brown joined the team in 1969, on third and short it was Sonny on a quick slant to Jerry Smith to get the first down. That group in 1967 and 1969 were fun to watch.

[@robertsheetz6067]

Two class acts .... Sonny Jurgenson and Billy Kiilmer.... Gotta lovem

[@nikosuavesworldofsportsmusic]

Christian Adolph “Sonny” Jurgensen III NUFF said!!!!!!

[@timburr4453]

Like that unique windmill throwing motion he had. Generated good power

[@Arborist1959]

I watched him from 68 until he retired and the contreversy with Kilmer!Sonny was the Rredskins best Quarterback.When he was playin we always had hope!Especially against Dallas!

[@mjt11860]

I don't know that Brady, as great as he is, was ever better than Sonny. Some of these passes threading thru the defense, are spectacular. Back then, johnny Unitis was considered the greatest of all time. He was a great as long as the offensive line stood up. But under pressure, he fell apart. Sonny was incredible under pressure. He said, "just give me 3 seconds...", that's all he needed. In a survey of defensive players back then, Sonny was the most feared, more so than Unitis.

[@askmeificare5557]

Brady's talent is outmatched by soooooooo many QBs. What makes Brady great is his brain. Him and Peyton both. Cerebrally dominant, but not necessarily the flashiest outside of a few seasons. My knowledge of old school QBs is limited, but from what I've seen in my life, Jurgensen, Marino, Rodgers, Favre and Mahomes are the best. Those 5 are stellar to watch, even in their defeats.

[@someonelivescash]

Brady generally wasn't ever that good individually. Has had his incredible performances here & there and does great in the clutch but overall he just had to do the decision-making, the guy benefited a little too much from an incredible o-line and coach for sure

[@michaelsloane9955]

Mount Rushmore of pure passers: Aaron Rodgers, Dan Marino, Y.A. Tittle, and Sonny Jurgensen.

[@dukewilson14]

Pretty accurate, no pun intended.

[@nigabastard1268]

Peyton Manning

[@diegozamudio9691]

Rodgers, marino, mahomes and sonny

[@drobson8004]

Drew Brees should al the very least get an honorable mention.

[@Yeomannn]

Gifted pure passer

[@yusufu9]

Sport World, Dec. 1970, Rating the Quarterbacks: "He is a great, great quarterback. He may be the best this league has ever seen. He is the best I have ever seen. He is all man. He has been playing under adverse conditions, not only this season but for several years. I don't want to take anything away from John Unitas or Bart Starr, but they have played with great teams. I still say he is the best passer of them all." The man who volunteered this judgement was none other than the Washington Redskins' tough coach, Vince Lombardi, who made the comment prior to the major illness which has sidelined him for the 1970-71 season. Lombardi, a man not addicted to flowery compliments about his hired help, was talking about Sonny Jurgensen, the Redskins' 36-year-old passer.

[@dukewilson14]

Incredible passer for sure. It gets tough comparing him to guys like Starr and Unitas who won championships and played well in the postseason vs. Sonny whose teams weren't great but his arm was something special.

[@c.dub.8031]

@@dukewilson14 I really don't think it's tough to compare Sonny with those guys. Two of the best qb's ever to play the game have never won a superbowl. Sonny Jurgensen and Dan Marino. Besides that, Sonny would have been considered one of the greatest if he just had a good defense to back him and his offense up. That D back then couldn't stop teams from scoring, the Colts and the Packers could. Hopefully, Mr. Duke, you could also post some old highlights of the great Sammy Baugh. He was playing three different positions on that team back then, if I remember correctly. Set records and won championships. BTW, thank you, sir, for posting these highlights! I love them!

[@andrewoshea5944]

Remarkable. The best. The GOAT!

[@donaldwoodward25]

Great video. I don't know what was more fun, watching Sonny's precision laser passes or watching the likes of Bobby Mitchell and Charley Taylor after the completion faking guys out of their jockstraps to turn a long gain into a touchdown.

[@dukewilson14]

Thanks, always fun watching Sonny drop care packages all over the field. Passes softly end up in the hands of the intended target. Also have a video of Bobby Mitchell if you want to watch him at regular speed instead of being sped up.

[@gaffneykenneth1]

I grew up in D.C love watching him play he had Restaurant in Maryland

[@charlesrodgers505]

I always enjoyed watching Sonny with his buggy whip arm!!!!!

[@wylan3322]

This is the best player I’ve ever seen .

[@edwardrichard2561]

One leg jump pass over 20 yards?!?! My Dad would tell me stories about Sonny but I didn’t think I would see that.

[@drbonesshow1]

Though he didn't look the part, Jurgensen was a great all-around athlete who could play basketball with the best of them.

[@dukewilson14]

I can see him being a point guard.

[@michaeldeenihan1911]

@@dukewilson14 I heard a story that the Eagles played the Colts in basketball in Hershey Pa as an exhibition game prior to Wilt Chsmberlain’s 100 pt. night in the same gym. Supposedly Sonny lit the Colts up with 50 points of his own.

[@Jdav8899]

I believe he was a state champion in tennis as well.

[@mjt11860]

He may not have been that fast (he didn't have to be), but he was agile when he rushed.

[@Yeomannn]

Not much straight line speed but really quick feet and shifty hips like Elway

[@hoopaholicstickum]

I have seen video of him warming up throwing hard fast accurate UNDERHANDED passes… a magician with the ball.

[@dukewilson14]

Only other player I can think of is Dan Marino who has done that during pregame.

[@jomamackdaddy]

He reminds me of a great dart thrower.

[@josephhewes3923]

One day, we're going to lose this man, and it will be the last of the Redskins.

[@softhotty]

Man said: " I dont know if the funs ever ended for Sonny." I remember Jergenson, I was a Cowboy fan, Roger Staubach, Sonny was always a threat.

[@mcouture8169]

And Staubach was a heartbreaker.. at least to 'skins fans ;-)

[@hoopaholicstickum]

i believe he is the ONLY player in the history of professional football to intentionally throw a BEHIND THE BACK forward pass. And it was a tight spiral and a dime… dude was amazing in his prime…. Serious old school QB pure

[@Jody562]

Before his time,dropping dimes

[@conanbdetective]

His receivers never had to guess how and there's no need to compensate. Perfect rotation in all passes is near unthinkable; even today and that's just his regular.

[@timsparks1858]

Sonny always on the Cusp of a Championship. The 1961 Eagles after their Championship with Van Brocklin. 1969 With Lombardi but Lombardi passed away the next year. 1973 A Foot injury kept him out of the Superbowl against undefeated Miami. He might have won that game if could of played....He beat Miami the next year in a regular season game.

[@mjt11860]

We might of won if he had been allowed to watch on the sidelines so he could coach kilmer (they would both coach each other), but George Allen made him sit in one of the VIP rooms, away from the game, as some type of punishment. He never liked Sonny. I've hated Allen ever since. I'll never forgive him. He brought the Redskins up, just to bring them down.

[@twobirds01]

Man rlly the only comp I’ve ever had to patty was Brett farve, but after I saw sonny play, i was convinced some brought Patrick mahomes back in a Time Machine and made him play in the sixties, just his arm and off balance throws in a time where that wasn’t normal is incredible

[@raywhitehead730]

Funny remark about him going to the "local Lounge" on Saturday night. It was a bar! Sonny was known for showing up on Sunday game time, a little hung over.

[@andrewoshea5944]

During his time he made me look forward to Sunday afternoons.

[@kevinjames8297]

My two favorite players to watch throw are Sonny Jurgensen and Sam Howell.

[@martydattner8622]

Howell looked amazing yesterday against Eagles and I watched Sonny many times in Phila- Marty from Philly

[@Qbert2803]

He was awesome

[@jamestillinghast7165]

People talking about Mahomes dad bod need to read about sonny jurgeson. Talk about a legend with a unathletic body.

[@softhotty]

If he played for Lombardi, Landry, Knoll, Shula, Knox hed a won a championship or more. Id take Sonny Jergensen any day.

[@HHIto]

Great!

[@jimpatterson1111]

It was as because of him I fell in love with football and the Redskins as a young boy. Before, football seemed just “meh” to me. But he made the game exciting.

[@martincrossed4562]

Sonny was the best!

[@kathleenblack9735]

Does anyone else's arm get tired watching this?!? BTW, my parents had the "I love Sonny" bumper sticker on their car.

[@reston81]

I miss those old redskins uniforms classic along with helmut

[@w41duvernay]

Can't believe he was a 4TH ROUND pick? How was the NFL evaluating QB's then?

[@Malaki727]

Rodgers look like him passing

[@stetsonnewman4867]

Hall of fame sj9 be proud overdue

[@tusrdu]

Great complilation! It would have been even better, if you were able to put the clips in together in rough chronolical order (instead of Eagles, Redskins, Eagles, Redskins, etc).

[@ricenglish4556]

Humpty Dumpty with an arm.

[@finalbossoftheinternet6002]

Dimes

[@JoeyKO757]

Sadly i was born in 1967 by the time i became a redskins fan Joe was the qb.

[@JoeDonFan]

Is this just the same 20 or so highlights over and over again?

[@dukewilson14]

Nope, no highlights are repeated.

[@JoeDonFan]

@@dukewilson14 Thanks, bro.

[@williamweeks6633]

Hail to the Redskins! No wait, make that Hail to the Commies!

[@billywilliams8753]

He was great. Too bad the Redskins are gone. Stopped watching the NFL after they were gone.

[@christophervirgo940]

How many yards would those QBs throw for today? It's almost flag football these days. Can't touch the QB or the receiver.

[@charlesrodgers505]

Also, he didn’t throw with his stomach!!!!!

[@dukewilson14]

He probably could though; was able to throw behind his back like a point guard. Was also 2 for 3 left handed according to Sonny.

[@mjt11860]

I watched actually make use of that behind the back pass during a game. It was the only way around the defense, during that play, and it worked!

[@smokeylake3150]

Never had a real team

[@miketaylor4993]

they will always b the WASHINGTON REDSKINS.

[@billmoyer3254]

Always!!

[@davidmitchell6873]

Go Commanders.

[@Jeremysnygiants]

Sonny was nothing compared to Patrick Mahomes. Sonny moves like a herky jerky neard. Brady, Elway, Unites, Starr, Staubach, Namath, Marino, Tittle, Montana, P. Manning, E. Manning, Simms, Favre, Bradshaw. All, WAY BETTER quarterbacks. Sonny was over rated and doesn’t belong in the hall of fame. Average quarterback. Decent career. Mahomes is way better after only a few years than Sonny ever was. Mahomes would run circles around him. Sonny….eh….

[@rocnrolldr]

I’ve seen both Sonny and Mahomes play many times - different eras. Almost all of Sonny’s passes were completed downfield to his wide receivers, particularly Charley Taylor and Bobby Mitchell, both in the Hall of Fame. Sonny led the league in passing when he was 40 years old and could throw over 80 yards when drafted out of Duke where he also started at defensive back, setting interception records. Namath, Marino, and Jurgenson are considered to have the quickest releases as QB. Mahomes is certainly more athletic, but let’s see if he has a gun in 15 years. Vince Lombardi called Sonny the greatest QB he’d ever seen. When Sonny retired he had the highest QB rating of all time. The game has changed in the last 50 years, but in the first 50 there was no one better. Just a fact. Btw, I live in New York and watch SNY. ;)

[@someonelivescash]

give sonny brady's oline & recieving core and he's winning 12

[@ButchTozier]

It was a different era, Sonny was as good as it got in those days. One thing that puts him above most modern QBs - he called the plays in the huddle, they weren't sent in by the coaches. Another thing, in those days the QBs (and the receivers) weren't protected by rules like they are today, they took a real beating every game, Sonny played many games with cracked ribs. Despite Sam Huff, the Redskins had mostly terrible defensive teams in those days.

[@drobson8004]

Maybe actually watch the throws he makes.