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Throwback Thursday: Sonny And Sam Join The Redskins

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For today's Throwback Thursday moment presented by

Blockbuster trades aren't much of a trend in the NFL anymore but on March 31, 1964, the Washington Redskins did just that when they swapped quarterbacks with the division rival Philadelphia Eagles. The trade involved Redskins' two-time Pro Bowler Norm Snead going to the Eagles for Sonny Jurgensen, along with a few other players.

Redskins head coach Bill McPeak wanted to make a change that would allow his team to have more of an aerial attack, so they went after Jurgensen, one of the league's best quarterbacks.

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About 10 days later, the Redskins made another trade within the division, acquiring first-team All-Pro middle linebacker Sam Huff and rookie defensive lineman George Seals.

Huff played five seasons with the Redskins and was a tackling machine for the Burgundy and Gold, he also had 12 interceptions and a touchdown.

With the additions of Huff and Jurgensen, the Redskins doubled their win total from the previous year and Jurgensen was selected to the Pro Bowl.

Philadelphia wide receiver Tommy McDonald was still in disbelief that Eagles coach Joe Kuharich allowed the trade, sending away a Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback from a division rival.

"To this day, I'll never understand why Kuharich traded Sonny to the Redskins," McDonald said. "Bill McPeak must have been the happiest person on Earth when he got Sonny. The Philly fans absolutely loved him. Who doesn't want that type of quarterback, my gosh? I'm sure when he came back to play the Eagles, the fans hated to see that."

Jurgensen would go on to have a memorable career with the Redskins that would span over 11 years -- finished with 22,585 passing yards and 179 touchdowns in Washington. But perhaps, Jurgensen's most memorable season in the nation's capital was in 1969, when he became a first-team All-Pro under Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi.

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