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As the news of Donovan McNabbs trade to the Redskins swept across the internet like a forest fire tonight, I couldn't help but be reminded of another shocking Eagles to Redskins QB trade.
I'm reading BGO member, and accomplished sports writer Jim Gehman's fascinating Redskins offering "Then Gibbs Said to Riggins...The Best Washington Redskins Stories Ever Told", a collection of first-hand stories told by former Redskins greats. Within that treasure trove of Redskins storytelling is one from Hall of Famer Sonny Jurgenson. Jurgy tells a story of another April Fools surprise, one that worked out pretty well for him.
Jim graciously agreed to let me share it with you.
Sonny’s “Little Added Incentive”
From 1957 to 1963, Sonny Jurgensen would travel to Washington once a year as a member of the division-rival Eagles. The final five trips back to Philadelphia were with a victory.
Those trips, however, became reversed for the veteran quarterback after the Eagles hired Washington’s former head coach, Joe Kuharich, in 1964. That’s when the last thing Jurgensen thought would occur actually did. He was traded to Washington for fellow quarterback Norm Snead.
“I didn’t know why [I was traded] because Joe Kuharich came there, and we had a nice meeting for a couple hours talking about what we were going to do,” said Jurgensen, who had been Philadelphia’s starter the previous three seasons and owned the team record with 32 touchdown passes in 1961. “I think it was in ’63, I had seven ends that broke arms, so I had no receivers to throw to. We’d won [the NFL championship] in ’60 and had gone downhill. In ’61 we had a good year, but in ’62 and ’63 we had all kinds of problems. And the problems were physical problems. So the team got old, and we slipped.
“I thought that [Kuharich and I] had a very good meeting and I went to lunch two or three blocks from the Eagles’ office, and somebody came in and said, 'Hey! I see they just traded you to Washington.’ I said, 'Aw, don’t tell me that. I just left the coach an hour ago.’ And he said, 'No, I’m not kidding you, Sonny. They just traded you to the Washington Redskins for Norm Snead.’ I said, 'Yeah, I know you’re kidding. It’s April Fools Day.’ And it was. I didn’t believe him. And it was true!”
It is also true that the Jurgensen-led Redskins didn’t enjoy too many sunny days as the 1964 season got underway. They lost their first four games, albeit three were by less than a touchdown. But when they hosted the 2-2 Eagles on October 11, Jurgensen played as if Washington hadn’t lost a game. He threw four touchdown passes as the Redskins popped Philadelphia, 35-20.
“I had given everything I could do, and I think they saw fit to trade us. But I know when I went back to play against them it made a little added incentive,” Jurgensen said. “It was a good thing in the long run, but when it happens to you, you’re shocked.”
The Redskins earned a 21-10 victory when the teams met again on November 1 in Philadelphia. It was the first time they had swept the series since 1958.
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I'm reading BGO member, and accomplished sports writer Jim Gehman's fascinating Redskins offering "Then Gibbs Said to Riggins...The Best Washington Redskins Stories Ever Told", a collection of first-hand stories told by former Redskins greats. Within that treasure trove of Redskins storytelling is one from Hall of Famer Sonny Jurgenson. Jurgy tells a story of another April Fools surprise, one that worked out pretty well for him.
Jim graciously agreed to let me share it with you.
Sonny’s “Little Added Incentive”
From 1957 to 1963, Sonny Jurgensen would travel to Washington once a year as a member of the division-rival Eagles. The final five trips back to Philadelphia were with a victory.
Those trips, however, became reversed for the veteran quarterback after the Eagles hired Washington’s former head coach, Joe Kuharich, in 1964. That’s when the last thing Jurgensen thought would occur actually did. He was traded to Washington for fellow quarterback Norm Snead.
“I didn’t know why [I was traded] because Joe Kuharich came there, and we had a nice meeting for a couple hours talking about what we were going to do,” said Jurgensen, who had been Philadelphia’s starter the previous three seasons and owned the team record with 32 touchdown passes in 1961. “I think it was in ’63, I had seven ends that broke arms, so I had no receivers to throw to. We’d won [the NFL championship] in ’60 and had gone downhill. In ’61 we had a good year, but in ’62 and ’63 we had all kinds of problems. And the problems were physical problems. So the team got old, and we slipped.
“I thought that [Kuharich and I] had a very good meeting and I went to lunch two or three blocks from the Eagles’ office, and somebody came in and said, 'Hey! I see they just traded you to Washington.’ I said, 'Aw, don’t tell me that. I just left the coach an hour ago.’ And he said, 'No, I’m not kidding you, Sonny. They just traded you to the Washington Redskins for Norm Snead.’ I said, 'Yeah, I know you’re kidding. It’s April Fools Day.’ And it was. I didn’t believe him. And it was true!”
It is also true that the Jurgensen-led Redskins didn’t enjoy too many sunny days as the 1964 season got underway. They lost their first four games, albeit three were by less than a touchdown. But when they hosted the 2-2 Eagles on October 11, Jurgensen played as if Washington hadn’t lost a game. He threw four touchdown passes as the Redskins popped Philadelphia, 35-20.
“I had given everything I could do, and I think they saw fit to trade us. But I know when I went back to play against them it made a little added incentive,” Jurgensen said. “It was a good thing in the long run, but when it happens to you, you’re shocked.”
The Redskins earned a 21-10 victory when the teams met again on November 1 in Philadelphia. It was the first time they had swept the series since 1958.
