Eagles Traded Away Future Hall of Fame QB Sonny Jurgensen

The Eagles' decision to trade Jurgensen in 1964 proved to be a costly mistake that haunted the franchise for years.

Feb. 8, 2026 at 9:31pm

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The Philadelphia Eagles drafted quarterback Sonny Jurgensen in 1957 and he helped lead the team to a championship in 1960. However, in 1964 the Eagles traded Jurgensen to the Washington Redskins, where he went on to have a Hall of Fame career, while the Eagles struggled for years after the trade. Jurgensen is considered by many to be one of the best pure passers in NFL history.

Why it matters

Jurgensen's trade was a pivotal moment in Eagles history, as the team parted ways with a future Hall of Fame quarterback who could have led them to continued success. The trade marked the beginning of a long stretch of irrelevance for the Eagles, who did not become relevant again until the mid-1970s.

The details

After winning the 1960 NFL Championship with Norm Van Brocklin at quarterback, the Eagles made Jurgensen their starter in 1961. That season, Jurgensen led the league in passing yards with 3,723. However, on April 1, 1964, the Eagles traded Jurgensen to the Washington Redskins in exchange for quarterback Norm Snead and defensive back Claude Crabb. Jurgensen went on to play 10 more seasons with the Redskins, making the Pro Bowl six times and being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, the Eagles struggled in the years after the trade, not becoming relevant again until Dick Vermeil took over as head coach in the mid-1970s.

  • Jurgensen was drafted by the Eagles in 1957.
  • Jurgensen became the Eagles' starting quarterback in 1961 after Van Brocklin's retirement.
  • On April 1, 1964, the Eagles traded Jurgensen to the Washington Redskins.
  • Jurgensen played 10 more seasons with the Redskins until 1974.

The players

Sonny Jurgensen

A Hall of Fame quarterback who was drafted by the Eagles in 1957 and helped lead them to the 1960 NFL Championship. He was traded to the Washington Redskins in 1964, where he went on to have a Hall of Fame career.

Norm Van Brocklin

The Eagles' starting quarterback who led the team to the 1960 NFL Championship before retiring.

Norm Snead

The quarterback the Eagles received from the Redskins in the trade for Jurgensen.

Claude Crabb

The defensive back the Eagles received from the Redskins in the trade for Jurgensen.

Dick Vermeil

The head coach who helped the Eagles become relevant again in the mid-1970s.

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What’s next

The Eagles' decision to trade Jurgensen in 1964 will continue to be debated by fans and historians, as it marked a pivotal moment that set the franchise back for years.

The takeaway

The Eagles' trade of Sonny Jurgensen in 1964 is a cautionary tale about the long-term consequences of parting ways with a generational talent at quarterback. The decision haunted the franchise for years and serves as a reminder of the importance of building around elite quarterback play.