A former Super Bowl champion has tragically died in a house fire.
Former NFL player and Super Bowl champion Barry Wilburn, best known for his time with the Washington Redskins, was found dead in a house fire over the weekend. He was just 62 years old.
Wilburn, an eighth round pick out of Ole Miss in 1985, was killed in a house fire in Memphis, Tennessee. The fire happened in Orange Mound early Friday morning. Action News 5 confirmed the tragic news.
"Family and friends are mourning the loss of former NFL player and Super Bowl champion Barry Wilburn. Family confirms he was the victim of a house fire in Orange Mound early Friday morning," they reported.
"The Memphis Fire Department responded to a reported residential structure fire on Douglass Avenue in Orange Mound at around 2am Friday morning. They found an unresponsive victim in the rear hallway. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A representative for the family has confirmed that Wilburn is the victim of the fire. MFD have yet to confirm the victim’s identity."
Wilburn, a Memphis, Tennessee native, played in the NFL from 1985 until 1996. He also spent time in the Canadian Football League. Wilburn played for the Redskins, Browns, Chiefs and Eagles.
Wilburn is the second Washington great to die this week
Former NFL star quarterback Sonny Jurgensen also died this week. He was 91 years old.
"Sonny Jurgensen is, and always will be, one of the defining legends of Washington football," the team said in a statement. "He was a giant of the game, and a beloved part of our team's identity. Our hearts and prayers are with Sonny's family, friends and everyone who loved him."
Our thoughts are with the friends and family members of both players.