Jurgensen was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, and attended Duke University, where he was a two-time All-American. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957, and spent three seasons with the team before being traded to the Washington Redskins in 1964.
Jurgensen was an immediate success with the Redskins, leading the team to the playoffs in 1965 and 1967. He was selected to the Pro Bowl five times and was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1967. He was also named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1960s.
Jurgensen was known for his strong arm and accuracy, and was one of the most prolific passers of his era. He was the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a single season, and he led the league in passing yards and touchdowns in 1967. He also held the Redskins' record for most passing yards in a single season until it was broken by Robert Griffin III in 2012.
Jurgensen retired after the 1974 season, having thrown for over 25,000 yards and 255 touchdowns in his career. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He was also inducted into the Redskins Ring of Fame in 1988.
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