Tag: Sonny Jurgensen

Commanders limited partner Mitchell Rales flying Sonny Jurgensen in for Sunday’s opener

Rales sent his private plane to pick up Sonny, Billy Kilmer, Jim Hart so they can attend the season opener.

Sunday is the beginning of a new era for the Washington Commanders. It’s the first game under the new ownership group, led by managing partner Josh Harris. The Commanders host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday from FedEx Field and several of the team’s legends will be in attendance.

You can add three more to that list, thanks to one of Harris’ limited partners Mitchell Rales.

Per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, Rales sent his private plane to Florida to pick up Sonny Jurgensen, Billy Kilmer, Jim Hart and their wives ahead of Sunday’s game. With Jurgensen’s current health, flying commercial was not an option, so Rales wanted to ensure one of the most iconic players in franchise history would be present Sunday.

Rales, Harris and Mark Ein all grew up Washington fans, admiring Jurgensen and Billy Kilmer. The team has already announced that John Riggins, Robert Griffin III and Champ Bailey are coming back. When Harris first took over in July, Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green was at Commanders Park, expressing optimism for the future.

Jurgensen, 89, spent 11 of his 18 seasons with Washington. After his playing career ended, Jurgensen joined the team’s broadcast booth, forming a legendary trio with fellow Hall of Famer Sam Huff and Frank Herzog. Jurgensen finally had his No. 9 jersey officially retired last season.

Kilmer, 84, spent the final eight seasons of his 18-year NFL career with Washington. He is a member of Washington’s Ring of Fame and one of the 80 greatest players in franchise history.

Hart played 19 seasons in the NFL. He spent his final season [1984] in Washington after playing for the Cardinals for the first 18 seasons. The Cardinals were in St. Louis when Hart played.

Kudos to Rales for this amazing gesture, ensuring Jurgensen and Kilmer, who’ve given so much to the franchise, will be “home” for Sunday’s game.

Commanders season opener in 9 days: Washington’s best No. 9

We are nine days away from Week 1, which means it’s Sonny Jurgensen’s day.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to Washington’s season opener for 2023 in 9 days. Who was the team’s best player wearing No. 9?

In May 2002, Steve Spurrier was conducting one of those offseason minicamps in his first year as head coach of the Redskins.

Quarterback Shane Matthews was wearing a No. 9 jersey in the workout. After all, he had worn No.9 in his four seasons with the Chicago Bears and also during his days as a Florida Gator. The ole ball coach of those Gator teams was also Steve Spurrier.

Not one person in the organization knew to tell Spurrier and Matthews that No. 9 was off-limits? Apparently not. But once the media and fans saw the video, it was news. After the outrage, owner Daniel Snyder stepped up and objected. No. 9 was not going to be available.

Of course, No. 9 was not available! Are you kidding me?!!

March 31, 1964, the Redskins sent starting quarterback Norm Snead and Claude Crabb to division rival Philadelphia for Sonny Jurgensen and Jimmy Carr.

How did Sonny perform once becoming a Redskins quarterback?

He was a Pro Bowler for four seasons (1964, 1966, 1967, 1969). Jurgensen was also All-Pro 2nd Team twice (1967, 1969). The former Duke Blue Devil led the NFL in pass completions in three seasons (1966, 1967, 1969).

How about passing yards? Jurgensen led the NFL in passing yards three seasons (1966, 1967, 1969).

How about a 99-yard touchdown pass? Jurgensen did that as well in the 1968 season opener at Chicago when he connected with Gerry Allen deep down the left sideline.

Team records? Well, Sonny never played a 16 or 17 game season schedule. But even in only 14 games, and with those rules Sonny passed for 31 touchdowns in 1967 and would you believe no Washington quarterback has done that since?

Also in that season, Jurgensen led the NFL in passing yards per game, passer rating, adjusted yards per pass attempt, and 4th Quarter comebacks.

Sonny’s last season that he was healthy the entire season (1970), he led the NFL in passing completion percentage.

Jurgensen’s last four seasons, he fought injuries, and head coach George Allen not wanting to play him. Yet his record in games he started was 11-2. He retired following the 1974 season.

At Sonny’s retirement press conference, Allen declared the Redskins would retire Sonny’s No. 9. Allen was the coach and general manager for three more seasons (1975-77), but he did not follow through on that promise.

Jurgensen worked with CBS as a commentator for NFL games before becoming a part of the Redskins Radio Broadcast team in 1981 with Frank Herzog and former teammate Sam Huff. Sonny continued in that role through the 2018 NFL season.

Jurgensen was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the class of 1983, along with former teammate Bobby Mitchell.

Sonny was voted one of the 70 best Redskins in 2002 and is also a member of Washington’s Ring of Fame.

Finally, over 40 NFL seasons after George Allen’s promise, the franchise finally retired Sonny’s No. 9 during the 2022 season finale at FedEx Field.

 

WATCH: Some of Sonny Jurgensen’s best throws

Sonny was ahead of his time.

When you think of some of the best players and most influential figures of the Washington NFL franchise’s 90-year history, quarterback Sonny Jurgensen is one of the first names that comes to mind.

Jurgensen began his career up north with the hated Philadelphia Eagles, where he played for seven seasons. He was traded to Washington in 1964, and the rest is history. Jurgensen played 11 seasons for the then-Redskins, finishing his career with 255 touchdowns and a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

When Jurgensen was done playing, he’d move into the broadcast booth, eventually teaming with fellow Hall of Famer Sam Huff and Frank Herzog to form a legendary trio that called games during the franchise’s glory years. Jurgensen retired from the broadcast booth in 2019.

The team finally retired Jurgensen’s number during Washington’s Week 18 win over the Dallas Cowboys in January.

On Friday, the official NFL Twitter account shared a video of Jurgensen, showing some of the best passes of his legendary career. Check out the first pass.

Talk to any old-school Washington fan, and you’ll come away with a better understanding of Jurgensen’s greatness. How many quarterbacks could do what Jurgensen could do during that era? Not many.

It’s always a good day to celebrate Sonny Jurgensen.

Washington Commanders reached out to Frank Herzog after 18 years

The final installment of our interview with the legendary voice of Washington’s franchise, Frank Herzog. Frank discusses coming back for Sonny’s jersey retirement and how good everyone in the organization was to him.

Frank Herzog was in this 26th season broadcasting all of the WMAL Washington Redskins football games from 1979-2004.

But all good things must come to an end.

This is the fifth and final installment in our Commanders Wire feature on Washington broadcast legend Frank Herzog.

Part one.     Part two.     Part Three    Part Four

December 2004, Frank Herzog remembers a broadcast producer expressed, “Hey, our Christmas party is this weekend, and I think you should go.”

“Ok, I can go, I guess,” replied Frank. “No, I think you ought to be there. You need to show your face.”

Herzog initially found that odd but went and was introduced to a man from the CBS parent offices in Philadelphia. Then the man showed up in the broadcast booth that Sunday. “Sure enough, following the season, there was a meeting at a coffee shop in Montgomery Mall, and I was informed they were not bringing me back the next (2005) season.”

“I was puzzled, of course, but I had to learn to accept it. What else can you do? Those are the facts of life.”

18 years later, the Friday before the season finale, Herzog found Julie Donaldson and Bram Weinstein reaching out to him on the phone, apologizing Herzog had not been officially invited to Sonny Jurgensen’s jersey retirement on Jan. 8.

Donaldson and Weinstein wanted Herzog at FedEx Field. Even more, they wanted him in the booth during some of the broadcast as well. The Commanders made all the travel arrangements. Sunday, Frank was on a flight from Wilmington (NC), arriving at noon.

“They had a chauffeur (Pierre) in a big black SUV meet me and drive me to FedEx. They escorted me to my suite, then to the broadcast booth for the pre-game segment with Julie Donaldson. Employees and fans were so nice to me, greeting me and welcoming me. I was treated as first class.”

Donaldson had asked Herzog during the pregame show to do his legendary call (“Touchdown, Washington Redskins”), but he kindly declined, stating he had only done the call during actual game broadcasts (1979-2004) and would prefer to keep it that way.

That is Herzog, the professional, the man who was skilled in his craft. He doesn’t want the call to ever become corny or silly. He wants it to be remembered as it actually was, in the heat of NFL competition.

Donaldson was also professional, apologizing to Herzog during the on-air segment for his not having been officially invited. She even stated she was partly responsible and expressed her love and respect for the work Herzog had accomplished. She demonstrated class and humility.

Invited back for the third quarter Herzog sat and interacted with Weinstein, Donaldson and London Fletcher on the broadcast.

Weinstein (49) grew up listening to Herzog and was the sideline reporter during the 2006-2008 seasons.

Upon landing the job, Weinstein had even reached out to Herzog for professional advice. “I am certainly aware I am only the third play-by-play announcer for this team since 1979 (Herzog, then Larry Michael (2005-2019). I respect the legacy of this team, and Frank is a big part of it.”

“When the third quarter began, I was so happy Frank was there with us,” Weinstein expressed with gratitude.

While the Commanders were driving down the field on the Cowboys in the third quarter, Weinstein mentioned to Herzog that Washington might score a touchdown.

A few plays later, Washington had the ball at the Dallas 9-yard line. Here was the call from Bram Weinstein: “Howell, play-action, Howell keeps. Runs back to the center of the field. At the 5, into the end zone! (pause).

When Howell crossed the goal line, Weinstein had laid out (paused), and looked to Herzog, who instantly finished the call with, “Touchdown, Washington Commanders!”

“Frank was right on cue with his famous call, ‘Touchdown Washington Commanders!‘ “said Weinstein. “For me, it is an incredibly cool moment. To have that moment with him is something I will never forget.”

When I spoke with Herzog two days later, Frank said it was such a moving moment for him as well. He was grateful to both Donaldson and Weinstein. Their thoughtfulness had given him a very special day, something he, too, will never forget.

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The Commanders’ attendance improved in 2022

But it’s not all good news.

For a while in the 2022 NFL season, the Washington Commanders were in an excellent position to earn a postseason berth. When Washington defeated the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 27 to improve to 7-5, the Commanders held the NFC’s No. 6 playoff spot with five games to play — three at home.

When Washington tied the New York Giants in Week 13, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen told fans how much the team needed them in the Week 15 rematch, promising to buy at least 100 tickets for fans.

Allen followed through, giving tickets away to fans on Twitter.

Fans showed up. Unfortunately, the Commanders didn’t, falling 20-12 to the Giants. Two weeks later, Washington was eliminated from postseason contention with an embarrassing home loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Speaking of the fans, Washington’s home attendance at FedEx Field improved by 10.15% from the previous year, according to the Sports Business Journal. That was the third-largest improvement in the league behind the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars.

That’s the good news.

Now for the bad news, 31 of the 32 NFL teams sold at least 92% of their stadium’s capacity. The only team that didn’t? You guessed it, the Washington Commanders, who sold 85.9% of their capacity.

Overall, it was a good year for the NFL.

The average NFL crowd grew by 3.25% to 69,442 per game in 2022, the second-largest figure in the last 19 years, according to an SBJ analysis of published box score attendance.

Throughout the year, Washington was encouraged by the increase in ticket sales. The Commanders also honored multiple stars from the past, including Sean Taylor, The Hogs and Sonny Jurgensen during games, hoping to encourage fans to return to FedEx Field.

With a potential new owner in 2023, it will be interesting to see if that translates into more fans returning to support the franchise.

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Sonny Jurgensen celebrated with family Saturday

Sunday is a big day for Washington legend Sonny Jurgensen. But Saturday was special for Jurgensen, too.

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Sunday is going to be a very public day for Christian Adolph (Sonny) Jurgensen.

However, Saturday he and his family traveling from near and far came together in McLean for family time before the more formal festivities which will take place Sunday in his honor.

Ole No. 9 is going to have his jersey officially retired Sunday at FedEx Field. As an NFL quarterback, he was good enough to be a Pro-Bowler five times, voted to the All-60s decade team, and voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

The Commanders will have a suite reserved for Sonny on Sunday with all sorts of memorabilia recalling his illustrious and productive seasons in Washington (1964-74). In addition, this year’s team will also wear a “9” decal on their helmets, honoring the franchise’s greatest quarterback.

Sunday will also feature “I Like Sonny” attire that can be purchased in the team store, a halftime celebration of his number being retired, a Sonny Jurgensen mural in Legends Plaza, and a large No. 9 erected outside section 131.

Thousands will observe these at FedEx Field, and hundreds of thousands will watch on TV and social media as they are presented. It is all quite fitting for the most popular player to ever wear the burgundy and gold uniform. It will all mean much to Sonny, but Saturday, he was with those he loves.

While his legacy is that he is in the Washington Ring of Fame and Football Hall of Fame, he is most at home these days at age 88 with his family, as was the case Saturday.

His sons were present, their children and there were great-grandchildren as well, all enjoying time together as family, being brought together to honor and love a man who, to them, is more than a Hall of Fame quarterback. To them, he is more than a celebrity radio announcer and Redskins ambassador of 37 years.  He is a great-grandpa, grandfather, dad, and husband.

“While this is WAY overdue for a man of Sonny’s caliber, the timing allows for such an incredible gathering of family for him. That’s a blessing that I think makes Sonny very happy,” said former broadcasting partner Larry Michael.

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Another huge blunder by the Commanders organization

The team later invited Herzog to share memories of Jurgensen during the broadcast booth Sunday.

The Commanders have whiffed BIG TIME again!

How in the world can the Commanders not invite Frank Herzog to Sonny Jurgensen’s jersey retirement?  Jason Wright, how can this be?

Even further, how can the Commanders not invite Frank Herzog to lead the ceremony?

Jurgensen, in a long-overdue ceremony, will have his No. 9 officially retired Sunday in the season finale against Dallas. The organization should have retired No. 9 decades ago out of respect for his accomplishments.

In addition, shouldn’t they have possessed enough consideration for the now 88-year-old legend not to have him standing out in the January cold?  Why wasn’t this scheduled for September or October? Where is the common sense?

Herzog, a guest on the Kevin Sheehan Show Friday morning, expressed when asked that he was actually not invited to the special occasion, though he worked with Jurgensen for over two decades.

Jurgensen and Herzog spent 22 years together in the three-man booth of Frank, Sonny and Sam (Huff) on Redskins radio football broadcasts from 1981-2004. Three seasons earlier, Herzog became the play-by-play announcer, replacing Dan Lovett.

The organization’s decision to retire Sean Taylor’s jersey before a Hall of Famer, who in addition was part of the famed three-man booth for the franchise for over 35 years, was contemptible and blameworthy.

Once again, the Washington Football organization is displaying a huge lack of awareness, expertise and wisdom. Good grief, Dan Snyder himself knows who Frank Herzog was and why he absolutely needed to have been invited.

Former announcer Larry Michael as well, without question, if asked, would have mentioned Frank Herzog as needing to be on the invite list. I wonder if they even realize Jurgensen’s later announcing teammates Larry Michael and Chris Cooley should also be invited?

Can it be expressed enough how many times the organization mishandles and taints aspects of these celebrations?

Of course, after Herzog’s appearance on the radio with Sheehan Friday morning, Herzog did receive an invitation, per Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

We often try and give the organization a pass for some things because much of it has been outside of their control. However, they have control over alumni relations. If you’re going to honor Jurgensen, shouldn’t you do a little research on his history before planning any type of ceremony?

Too often, does the team try to right a wrong after the fact? This is another one of those instances.

Sheehan was told by the team the reason Herzog wasn’t initially invited was that Jurgensen’s family requested a small, “mostly family” event, with the exception of a few, including Billy Kilmer.

Perhaps, that is correct. But then why invite Herzog after seeing the backlash of not inviting him in the first place? This team is too reactionary. How many instances recently did the team change course once they were criticized?

Here’s hoping for a good day for Jurgensen on Sunday.

Remembering RFK Stadium in the 1970s

Remembering some wonderful moments from RFK Stadium in the 1970s.

Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Stadium (RFK) holds lasting memories for so many of us.

The stadium is going to be the object of demolition, and then a renovation on the 190-acre property will result in an indoor sports complex as well as housing, pedestrian and bicycle bridges across the Anacostia River to connect residents to River Terrace, the RFK Campus, Hill East, and Kingman and Heritage Islands.

My first memories of RFK are the 1969 Redskin season

I was instantly hooked for life. Sonny Jurgensen, Larry Brown, Charley Taylor, Sam Huff, Chris Hanburger. All coached by then-legendary coach Vince Lombardi. I still recall those helmets with the spear.

1970 brought new uniforms with the R on the helmet, and George Allen stirred up the DMV during his years 1971-77. RFK became a real home-field advantage.

How will I ever forget the 1972 comeback to Dallas in RFK after being down 13-0 and 20-7 to win 24-20? The two playoff games at RFK that season brought two Washington victories including a 26-3 whooping of Dallas in the NFC Championship game.

The very next season (‘73) Brig Owens in the 4th quarter with his pick-six against Dallas on MNF, and Dallas still driving late only to be stopped at the 1-yard line by Ken Houston’s tackle of Walt Garrison.

Jurgensen led a late drive to defeat Miami 20-17 in 1974, and RFK was really rocking when the Burgundy and Gold were destroying Dallas 28-0, but then had to hold on to win only 28-21.

Overtime came to the NFL in 1975, and it was Washington who had three overtime games that first year, and two at RFK, beating Dallas 30-24 and losing to the Raiders 26-23.

The worst field conditions I ever saw at RFK were a 1976 MNF game in the rain against the Cardinals (an NFC divisional rival in those days). Eddie Brown’s 71-yard punt return touchdown will always be one of the greatest scoring plays in RFK history.

Interestingly, I recall George Allen’s last game as Washington’s coach. At RFK, it was a 17-14 victory over the LA Rams in the 1977 season finale, a Saturday afternoon contest. Allen finished his Washington coaching career (67-30-1 .691).

Jack Pardee coached Washington the 1978-1980 seasons. The ‘78 team started out 6-0 including a MNF win over Dallas at RFK 9-5, with President Jimmy Carter in attendance.

Earl Campbell and the Houston Oilers opened the season at RFK in 1979. Washington came up short 29-27. Also of note that season was the RFK game against the Cowboys when Pardee elected to have Mark Moseley kick a late field goal to give Washington a 34-20 victory. Dallas talked of Pardee running up the score.

Washington at Giants 50 years ago: Sonny Jurgensen and Billy Kilmer

The Giants and Washington, 50 years ago, Billy Kilmer replacing the injured Sonny Jurgensen at quarterback.

Sonny Jurgensen, Billy Kilmer, the Commanders and the Giants have been in the news this week.

Boy, does THAT bring back memories.

Similarly to this 2022 season, Washington in 1972 was coming into the road game against the Giants feeling really good about themselves. After an early season 24-23 loss at the Patriots, George Allen had reinserted Sonny Jurgensen as his starting quarterback. Washington had defeated the Eagles 14-0 and romped the Cardinals in St Louis 33-3.

In Sonny’s third start, the offense started slowly against Dallas, falling behind 13-0 and 20-7, but then Sonny, Larry Brown and Charley Harraway played key roles in a terrific come-from-behind 24-20 victory in front of a frenzied home crowd at RFK.

After the great comeback win over Dallas, Sonny led the Burgundy and Gold (5-1) to New York to face the Giants (4-2). In those days, the Giants played their games on the grass field of Yankee Stadium. Unlike modern-day field accommodations,  the Yankees had played 81 games on the field, and the Giants would play half of their six exhibition games on the field and seven regular season games. There was no time for the field to recover, and the NFL season was thus very destructive to a grass field.

In the first quarter, Jurgensen on a drop back went untouched; however, he stepped in an uneven spot on the turf and tore his Achilles tendon. Billy Kilmer took over, and Washington would lead by as much as 23-9, winning 23-16 for their fourth straight win.

Kilmer had taken over for Jurgensen, and George Allen’s best team (1972) would go on to win nine consecutive games, the NFC East at 11-3, and the NFC Championship before losing to the undefeated Dolphins in Super Bowl VII.

George Allen created his own narrative, and Jurgensen was treated unfairly as if he himself was divisive. Allen went as far to prohibit Jurgensen from the sideline during the Super Bowl, though Kilmer desired Jurgensen’s help.

Kilmer more than once defended Sonny, stating the two actually remained good friends and that Jurgensen was always attempting to help Kilmer as quarterback, wanting the team to win. George Allen was sometimes paranoid, but that is another story for another day.

This week we learned the present organizational leadership apparently knows little to nothing of this past bond between Kilmer and Jurgensen. Kilmer told Thom Loverro he would love to be a part of Sonny’s No. 9 being retired on Jan. 8, 2023, in the season finale against Dallas. “Nobody has said anything to me about what’s going on. I want to come up.”

After playing for Washington from 1964-74, Sonny was part of the radio broadcast team from 1981-2018.

Sorry, but I have to ask, will the organization understand that Frank Herzog, Larry Michael and Chris Cooley need to be there as well?

Terry McLaurin pays homage to Art Monk after Commanders’ win over Eagles

Remember when Eagles coach Nick Sirianni took a shot at Art Monk back in September? Terry McLaurin had the last laugh on Monday night.

Does anyone remember after the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Washington Commanders back in Week 3, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni came into his postgame presser wearing a Mike Quick No. 82 jersey?

Quick, of course, is a Philadelphia legend, playing nine years with the Eagles. He is now a member of Philadelphia’s radio broadcast team.

Sirianni, all smiles after that win, had the following to say about Quick while throwing shade at Washington legends Art Monk and Darrell Green.

“Always was a Quick fan,” Sirianni said. “He had some great success here in Washington against, I think it was, I talked to him today, it was against Darrell Green. So, and then, uh, I am taking Mike Quick over Art Monk any day.”

Some nice brown-nosing there by Sirianni.

Anyhow, when Washington wide receiver Terry McLaurin stepped up to the podium after Monday’s win over Sirianni’s Eagles, he was asked if it was fair to say he’d take Art Monk over Mike Quick.

“Yeah, you got the insider,” McLaurin said while laughing, clearly knowing the backstory of why he was asked that question. “Shoutout to Art Monk.”

“The Posse,” Washington’s famous trio of wide receivers during its glory years, featured Monk, Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders. That trio recently paid a visit to team headquarters and visited with McLaurin and the rest of the Commanders’ wide receivers.

Quick was a terrific player, but he’s not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Monk and Green are. Monk’s 940 career receptions and three Super Bowl rings far surpass Quick’s 363 career receptions and zero championships. Monk is also a member of the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade Team.

Green and Quick did have some epic battles in the 1980s with Green winning some and Quick winning some.