Overview
- Fire crews responded around 2 a.m. on Feb. 6 to a residence on Douglas Avenue in Memphis’ Orange Mound neighborhood and found Wilburn unresponsive in a rear hallway, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.
- The Washington Commanders issued an official statement on Feb. 8 confirming the death of the 62-year-old former All-Pro and offering condolences to his family.
- Family members confirmed Wilburn’s identity to local media, and officials say the investigation into how the blaze started is ongoing.
- Wilburn led the NFL with nine interceptions in 1987, earned first-team All-Pro honors, and intercepted two passes in Washington’s Super Bowl XXII win over the Broncos.
- Drafted out of Ole Miss in the eighth round in 1985, he played eight NFL seasons with Washington, Cleveland and Philadelphia, also starred in the CFL with a 1994 Grey Cup, and finished with 246 tackles and 20 interceptions.