Former NFL Star Barry Wilburn Dies in Memphis House Fire

Wilburn, a Super Bowl champion with the Washington Commanders, was 62 years old.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Barry Wilburn, a former NFL defensive back who led the league in interceptions in 1987 and won a Super Bowl with the Washington Commanders that same season, has died in a house fire in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 62 years old.

Why it matters

Wilburn was a beloved figure in Memphis, where he grew up and played high school football. His death in a tragic house fire has shocked the local community and the broader NFL world, where he was remembered as a talented player and role model.

The details

According to reports, the Memphis Fire Department responded to a house fire early Friday morning, where they found and pronounced Wilburn dead at the scene. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Wilburn played five seasons with the Washington Commanders, leading the NFL in interceptions in 1987 and winning a Super Bowl that same year. He later played for the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles before retiring.

  • The house fire occurred early Friday morning.
  • Wilburn led the NFL in interceptions in 1987 and won a Super Bowl that same season.

The players

Barry Wilburn

A former NFL defensive back who played for the Washington Commanders, Cleveland Browns, and Philadelphia Eagles over his 7-year career. He led the NFL in interceptions in 1987 and won a Super Bowl with the Commanders that same season.

Darrell Green

A Hall of Fame cornerback who played alongside Wilburn in the Washington Commanders' defensive backfield in the late 1980s.

Tim Thompson

Wilburn's former high school football teammate at Melrose High School in Memphis, who looked up to Wilburn as a role model.

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What they’re saying

“I always looked up to him. He was like a role model.”

— Tim Thompson, Wilburn's high school football teammate (WREG)

“Barry ended up going to Ole Miss. He wore the number 11. I asked him when he left Melrose, 'it would be a privilege for me to wear your number 11' and he said 'it was an honor.'”

— Tim Thompson, Wilburn's high school football teammate (WREG)

What’s next

The Memphis Fire Department is still investigating the cause of the fire that claimed Wilburn's life.

The takeaway

Wilburn's tragic death in a house fire has left the Memphis community and NFL world mourning the loss of a beloved player and role model. His legacy as a Super Bowl champion and community leader will continue to inspire those who knew him.