Washington Redskins: Sonny Jurgensen & Billy Kilmer- The Sonny-Billy Rivalry

Source:Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (1971-78)

Source:Real Life Journal

“Washington Redskins Greats Sonny Jurgensen & Billy Kilmer sat down with Redskins.com to discuss the Draft, Kentucky Derby & more… 

From the Washington Redskins

Sonny Jurgensen was clearly a better quarterback than Billy Kilmer. But Bill better fit head coach George Allen’s conservative offensive personality better. So George could say: “See, this is why we need to run more and Bill won’t take as many chances throwing the ball. Because his arm wasn’t as good as Sonny’s.” But a better head coach with perhaps a better understanding of offensive football, who didn’t have a conservative defensive mindset that George Allen had, would’ve known better. And what worked better for the Redskins offensively.

There are many horrible tragedies of Vince Lombardi dying and when he did. In 1970 at the age of fifty-seven when he could’ve probably coached another 5-10 years had he taken better care of himself. But one of those tragedies that Sonny paid the heaviest price for with the Redskins, was George Allen coming in, in 1971 as the head coach/general manager of the club.

The Redskins did pretty well under Allen. Seven winning seasons, five playoff appearances, an NFC East title and NFC title. But had Vince Lombardi lived and continued on with the Redskins in the 1970s, Sonny Jurgensen not only finishes his career with the Redskins, which he did, but he would’ve remained the full-time starter with the Redskins at quarterback, had he stayed healthy. Because the Lombardi would’ve figured out quickly that Sonny was the better quarterback than Billy Kilmer. And the Redskins would’ve won more games, more NFC East titles, played in more Super Bowls and perhaps won at least one Super Bowl in the 1970s.