Sonny Jurgensen could throw a football as beautifully as anyone who ever played the game, but never quite got the spotlight he deserved. While Johnny Unitas was winning championships and Joe Namath was pulling off one of the most famous upsets in sports history, Jurgensen was often doing something just as impressive on far less forgiving teams.

His journey started in Wilmington, North Carolina, long before packed stadiums and record books. At Duke, he began shaping the calm, confident style that would define his career. Drafted by Philadelphia in 1957, he spent his early seasons waiting, learning, and fighting for his moment before finally taking over as the starter. Just as things were clicking, football pulled one of its classic twists, an unexpected trade to Washington in 1964 that changed the rest of his life.

But in D.C., Sonny wasn’t just a quarterback. He became part of the city’s heartbeat. Fans still talk about that late drive against Miami in 1974, when a 40-year-old Jurgensen marched the team down the field and fired the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds. Or the 99-yard strike in 1968 that traveled the entire field and straight into NFL history.

What made Jurgensen even more special was how deeply he understood the game. He spoke about quarterbacking like a craft, about reading defenses in real time, absorbing blindside hits, and why playbooks drawn up in quiet meeting rooms often meant nothing once you stared down linebackers like Ray Nitschke. And so, after retirement, his voice became a part of the rhythm of Sundays for nearly four decades in the broadcast booth during the franchise’s glory years. 

Honors followed: Hall of Fame inductions, retirement of number 9, and permanent places in team history. Yet Sonny always felt like someone the city discovered and claimed as its own.

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That lifelong connection to the game only made the news of his passing hit harder. Jurgensen died in Naples, Florida, after a brief stay in hospice care, leaving behind his wife of nearly five decades, Margo Hurt, four sons, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

The professional side of his life is well known, but now people want to know more about the former quarterback, starting with a look at his financial legacy.

What is Sonny Jurgensen’s net worth?

Sonny Jurgensen’s net worth sits at around $2 million, per recent reports. While exact contract details from his playing days remain private, the star quarterback took home just $14,000 per season back then, supplementing his income with offseason jobs in construction and at a sporting goods store.

Jurgensen built that fortune mainly through his nearly two-decade NFL career, followed by years in sports broadcasting and some endorsements. Let’s dive deep into Jurgensen’s legacy as a quarterback to see how it all started.

Sonny Jurgensen’s college and professional career

Jurgensen starred at the quarterback position for the Duke Blue Devils in 1956, helping the team to a 5-4 record and a third-place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference that year. His college days laid the groundwork for pro success. His NFL journey kicked off when the Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the fourth round, 43rd overall, of the 1957 NFL Draft.

However, Jurgensen started just four games over his first four seasons with the Eagles. He broke out in his last two years there, leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns while topping the charts in interceptions, too. A blockbuster trade in 1964 sent him to the Washington Redskins, where he truly shone.

There, the quarterback earned five Pro Bowl nods. Fans and coaches loved his fearless play, hanging tough in the pocket to deliver rockets downfield. Even legendary head coach Vince Lombardi, who guided the Redskins in 1969, raved about him.

“Jurgensen is a great quarterback,” the coach said. “He hangs in there under adverse conditions. He may be the best the league has ever seen. He is the best I have seen.”​

For Jurgensen, football dominated his life, but he always credited a great support system behind him. Let’s find out about the people who helped shape the legendary QB.

Who is Sonny Jurgensen’s wife, Margo Hurt?

Sonny Jurgensen was married to Margo Hurt, his loving partner for decades. The two tied the knot on June 8, 1967, and together they shared two children. This was Jurgensen’s second marriage, following his earlier union with Suzanne Stuart Long, with whom he also had two children. In total, he leaves behind four sons, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Margo Hurt brought quiet strength to Jurgensen’s life off the field, supporting him as he etched his name in NFL history, something he pointed out in his retirement speech.

“After 62 years in professional football, I still have my health and wonderful family with a special thanks to my beautiful wife Margo for letting me work the weekends for all those years. I’ll always be a fan of professional football and appreciative of all that it has done for me, my family and our city. I’ll leave you with these word, Hail to the Redskins!” Jurgensen said in 2019.

His family announced his passing with deep sadness, yet pride in the legacy the legendary QB left behind. Their statement captured the joy he brought to so many.

Who are Sonny Jurgensen’s parents?

Sonny Jurgensen was born on August 23, 1934, in Wilmington, North Carolina, to Christian A. Jurgensen II and Lola (Johnson) Jurgensen. Those roots in the South fueled his passion for the game from an early age. The passing of Sonny prompted his family to share the news while paying tribute to his enduring legacy.

“We are comforted by the knowledge that he brought joy to so many. This weekend as we enjoy the game that he loved so much, join us and raise a glass, share a story and a smile, as we celebrate the extraordinary life of a man who was, to us, the greatest of all time,” the family statement read.​

Sonny was a beloved figure in Washington, and living there with Margo was something the couple truly cherished. Their life together wove into the city’s football fabric.​

Sonny Jurgensen’s house

Jurgensen and Margo lived in a grand Italianate villa near the Mount Vernon Estate in Virginia from 1970 until listing it for sale in 2003. The stunning home overlooked the Potomac River, boasting four bedrooms, a pool, a tennis court, and a soaring two-story living room. It was their family hub during his Redskins days.

The couple also owned a $2 million home in Naples, Florida, where they spent most of their time during the offseason. That sunny retreat offered a peaceful contrast to football’s intensity, a place to unwind with family.