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Number Crunching: #9
by Chris Brophy
21/5/2009
The last of the single digits is upon us and this time we focus on one of the best pure passers of all time. How many quarterbacks would you see traded within the division nowadays? How many Quarterbacks are best friends with their main rival for their job? This guy had both those situations, read on to find out more:
FD’s All Time #9: Sonny Jurgensen, Quarterback (Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins)
 In the 1960s the Redskins acquired themselves a quarterback who would go on to light up scoreboards and zip tight spirals through the air for over a decade. Christian Adolph Sonny Jurgensen was one of the great pure passers of football who would win three individual passing titles but like Dan Marino a couple of decades later, had little help on the opposite side of the ball to give the balance that is needed to win in a team game.
Originally drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957, Sonny spent the early years of his career backing up Norm Van Brocklin. In 1960 he was part of the Eagles NFL Championship team and when Van Brocklin retired in 1961 Jurgensen took over as the starter with immediate success, throwing for over 3700 yards and 32 TD’s in his first season starting and being named All-Pro.
The following two years seen a downturn in the Eagles fortunes and injuries struck Jurgensen limiting his effectiveness so in 1964 the Redskins and Eagles executed a swap of QB’s with the ‘Skins getting Sonny and the Eagles getting Norm Stead along with cornerback Claude Crabb. The trade happened on April 1st and when originally informed of the trade Jurgensen assumed wrongly it was an April fools joke.
The Redskins were not a good team in the 1960’s but Jurgensen at least made them competitive and exciting to watch. They could score on anyone and Sonny executed sweet revenge in his first meeting over his former team as he lit up the Eagles for four touchdowns in a 35-20 victory.
Jurgensen had some great targets to throw to – Hall of Famer wide receivers Bobby Mitchell and Charley Taylor as well as one of the most productive tight ends of the time in Jerry Smith. They were the finest passing attack in the league with Jurgensen regularly being amongst the lead leaders in passer rating, yardage and TD passes. Jurgensen didnt believe in scrambling, his talent lay in passing so he would hang in the pocket and beat you passing rather than be intimated to move out of the pocket by oncoming pass rushers.
He’d endear himself to the Redskin faithful in 1965 against the Cowboys when he led the team back from 21-0 down with 411 yards passing and a game winning 35 yard TD pass to Bobby Mitchell as the ‘Skins won 34-31. It was the greatest comeback in Redskins history at the time. In 1968 Sonny would hook up with Gerry Allen for a 99 yard TD pass. It was the fourth time the feat had been accomplished although they were only the third Redskins pairing to pull it off.
Vince Lombardi would come to the Redskins in 1969. There was some concern that the stern Lombardi would clash with the fun loving style of Jurgensen but they gelled together surprisingly well in their one season together and finally the Redskins would find winning ways, going 7-5-2. Unfortunately, Lombardi died after only one season but he had this to say about Sonny: “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.”
 Praise indeed.
George Allen would follow a year later and he brought in his own quarterback in Billy Kilmer. Both guys were like chalk and cheese. Jurgensen the pure passing machine, Kilmer threw his wounded ducks, scrambling about to keep plays alive. Unusually, despite the rivalry for the position, both guys managed to be friends, hanging out off the field together and they remain close to this day, regularly speaking on the phone and meeting up to play golf.
Over the coming seasons, despite Kilmer being the preferred choice for Allen both guys got playing time. When the Redskins made their first Super Bowl in 1973, it was Kilmer who led the way as Jurgensen was out with an Achilles tear (he had been 4-0 as a starter that year) and to this day there are still those who believe had Jurgensen played in that game it could have been a different story.
Jurgensen would win the third of his passing crowns in 1974 at the age of 40 sharing time with Kilmer and his last great moment came in a victory over those same Dolphins at RFK when the ‘Skins sneaked a win with 5 seconds left. Jurgensen retired after that season. A five time pro bowler with three passing titles to his name, he was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1983. He was also named to the All-Decade team for the 1960s and is in the Redskins Ring of Fame and a member of their 70 Greatest Redskins roster named in 2002.
Nowadays he commentates on Redskins games for radio. No one else before or since has worn the famed #9 for the Redskins.
Role of Honourable Mentions
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Bill Wade, Quarterback (LA Rams, Chicago Bears)
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Tommy Kramer, Quarterback (Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints)
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Jim McMahon, Quarterback (Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles)
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Steve McNair, Quarterback (Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens)
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Drew Brees, Quarterback (San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints)
 Former Vanderbilt star Bill Wade would start his career at the Rams but would become best known as the QB of the Bears 1963 NFL Championship team. The George Allen connection crops up again here as he was an assistant on the Bears who suggested acquiring Wade from the Rams. The plan worked and Wade made two pro bowls as well as being a world champion in his career.
Tommy Kramer had the harsh task of being asked to replace Fran Tarkenton as the Vikings quarterback in the later 70s. He had a tough start and suffered a lot of injuries along the way but Two Minute Tommy had his moments, including a famous Hail Mary to receiver Ahmad Rashad against the Browns which helped clinch a post season berth in 1980. Kramer was the first QB to ever pass for 450 yards in a game twice and he once threw for 6TDs in a game against the Packers. In 1986 he made the Pro Bowl and was the NFLs Comeback Player of the Year as he led the league in passer rating.
Jim McMahon is as well known for his dark glasses, beer drinking, chewing gum and wacky hair styles as he is for his play on the field but he was the Bears QB in their 1985 Super Bowl season being the perfect leader of their offense. An excellent play action passer, McMahon took full advantage of the threat behind him that was Walter Payton to give the Bears a genuine air attack to complete the balance of their team. Injuries plagued his career and limited his production but his leadership skills are unquestioned. He is the first QB to rush for two TDs in a Super Bowl.
Coming out of college, Steve McNair was prolific but because the level Alcorn State played at there were concerns. As it was, there was no need for any worry as McNair would go on to be a very solid QB over the next decade or so. The infamous one yard short pass in Super Bowl XXXIV is probably his most remembered moment but during his career he was also NFL co-MVP in 2003 and made three Pro Bowls.
The best #9 around now would be Drew Brees. Only the second man to pass for over 5000 yards in a season, Brees is as prolific as anyone at present and over the last three seasons has passed for just under 14000 yards and 88 TDs. A three time Pro Bowler and 2004 Comeback Player of the Year, Brees could well be the greatest #9 ever when he has finished his career.
Learn More about past NFL greats in our History Archive
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