RIP - Sonny Jurgensen

Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen passed away on February 6, 2026 at age 91.

Jurgensen played for the Eagles from 1957 to 1963, and was their starting QB for his last 3 seasons there. 

 

He was traded to the Redskins, and was their starter from 1964 until George Allen arrived in 1971. (I always thought that Allen preferred the newly-acquired Bill Kilmer over Jurgy, but Sonny was injured early in 1971, thus losing the job to Kilmer.) Jurgensen started all but 3 games during his first 7 seasons with Washington. He stayed on as a backup for 4 more seasons, starting as many as 4 games in three of those years. 

 

He was a 5-time Pro-Bowler (4 with the Redskins) and led the NFL in passing yards 5 times and in pass completions 4 times. He also passed for more then 400 yards in a single game five times, and threw five touchdown passes in a game twice. 

 

Jurgensen retired after the 1974 season, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983. 

 

After his playing career he became a broadcaster, first for CBS and then 38 seasons for the Redskins. 

 

Washington Redskins obituary  

 

New York Times obituary 

  

RIP - 2025

Players from the 1965-1975 era that passed away in 2025:

Tom Brown was also a 1st baseman for the Washington Senators.

 

 

Baseball deaths in 2025 

  

Chicago Bears - Custom Extension Set

Over a year ago I posted my set of Oakland Raiders custom cards issued by RetroCards.net. A few months ago I made another purchase from them - their 1967 Bears and 1966 Falcons sets. 

 

All the sets I've bought from them are listed on the sidebar. 

RetroCards.net makes "cards that never were" mostly for football, but some baseball and non-sports issues too. Among their football sets, they lean toward the Cowboys, Packers, and Bears, but other teams are occasionally represented, including all teams in the 1963 and 1966 sets. The sets for most teams include about 9 cards, but sets for their 3 favorite teams usually include 20 or more cards.

 

Here are the 1967 Bears, that complement the original set issued by Philadelphia Gum. The inclusion of 3 quarterbacks in this custom set makes for 4 quarterbacks overall (including Rudy Bukich from the original set.)

 

Within each grouping, I accidentally arranged the cards in the opposite position order from what I normally do. (right-to-left, rather than left-to-right) 

 

 

(Blogger limits the labels to 200 total characters, so I couldn't include everyone.)

RIP - 2024

Players from the 1965-1975 era that passed away in 2024:

Also: Carl Weathers, Golden Richards, Mike Kolen.  

 

Baseball deaths in 2024 

  

RIP - Jim Otto

Jim Otto, the Raiders' center from 1960 to 1974, passed away on May 19, 2024 at age 86.

Otto was selected by the AFL's Minneapolis franchise in 1960, but when they backed out of the league (after receiving an offer to join the NFL in 1961) the Oakland Raiders were quickly established as the 8th team. 

 

Otto started EVERY GAME at center for his entire 15-year career. He was named to the Pro Bowl (or AFL All-Star team) in all but his last 2 seasons. He was also named first-team All-Pro 10 times. 

 

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980, and was also named to the All-Time AFL team.

 

Otto is one of 3 players to have played in every one of his team's AFL games. 

 

Raiders.com obituary  

 

NFL.com obituary