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.
Congrats to Sonny Jurgensen on the #Commanders deciding to retire his No. 9. Best pure passer in franchise history. And when you combine that with his legendary work on Redskins radio broadcasts, he is perhaps the greatest icon in team history. pic.twitter.com/oVAVnWCsSS
— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) August 23, 2022
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.
Wednesday night work on Sonny Jurgensen. #HTTR pic.twitter.com/pvAJWQO4DF
— DC Sports Artist (@PaulNicholsDC) December 29, 2022
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.