Former NFL All-Pro defensive back Barry Wilburn, who won a Super Bowl with Washington, died in a house fire in Memphis.
He was 62.
“We’re saddened to learn of the passing of former Washington All-Pro and Super Bowl XXII champion Barry Wilburn,” the Washington Commanders stated.
“Sending our deepest condolences to his family and friends,” it added.
We're saddened to learn of the passing of former Washington All-Pro and Super Bowl XXII champion Barry Wilburn
Sending our deepest condolences to his family and friends pic.twitter.com/36GkXTUY7R
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) February 8, 2026
Fox News shared further:
The former Ole Miss standout was taken in the eighth round of the 1985 NFL Draft. He played in all 16 games his rookie season and had 39 tackles that year. He improved massively over the course of his career, earning an All-Pro selection in 1987 as he led the NFL with nine interceptions.
During the 1987 playoffs, Wilburn had three interceptions. Two of the three came in Super Bowl XXII against the Denver Broncos. The Redskins won the game, 42-10.
ADVERTISEMENTWilburn played with the Cleveland Browns in 1992 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995 and 1996.
He played multiple seasons in the Canadian Football League in between his time in the NFL. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, BC Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In 1994, he became one of a handful of players to win a Grey Cup and a Super Bowl.
His family told Action News 5 that he was the victim of a house fire early Friday morning.
Watch some of Wilburn’s highlights below:
RIP Barry Wilburn 🕯️#Redskins Cornerback
• Super Bowl XXII Champion
• 1987 First-Team All-Pro; led the NFL in interceptions with nine
• Longest Interception return in Redskins history — 100-yard pick-six in 1987
• Five career postseason interceptions, including two for… pic.twitter.com/AwsCFRjX95— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 8, 2026
Action News 5 noted:
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.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.






