Barry Wilburn, the standout cornerback who topped the NFL in interceptions during the 1987 season and played a key role in the Washington Redskins’ Super Bowl XXII victory, has passed away at 62.
The Washington Commanders announced his death on Sunday. According to his family, he died in a house fire on February 6, 2026, at his residence in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Memphis Fire Department responded to a call about a residential fire on Douglass Avenue in the Orange Mound community around 2 a.m. Firefighters located Wilburn unresponsive in a rear hallway, and he was declared dead at the scene. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“We are saddened to hear of the passing of former Washington All-Pro and Super Bowl XXII champion Barry Wilburn,” the Commanders said in a social media statement. “We extend our deepest sympathies to his loved ones.”
Born on December 9, 1963, Wilburn came from a family of athletic achievers. His mother, Margaret Matthews Wilburn, earned a bronze medal in the 4×100-meter relay at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics as part of the iconic Tennessee State Tigerbelles alongside Wilma Rudolph, who later became Wilburn’s godmother. His father, Jesse Wilburn, coached football at Melrose High School in Memphis, where Barry excelled before advancing to the Ole Miss Rebels.
Washington drafted Wilburn in the eighth round of the 1985 NFL Draft with the 219th overall pick. Despite modest expectations, the 6-foot-2 cornerback quickly exceeded them.
The shortened 1987 season became the highlight of his career. Wilburn intercepted nine passes—most in the NFL—and earned first-team All-Pro recognition while playing beside Hall of Famer Darrell Green. He also set a team record with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings, a milestone that stood for years.
Wilburn delivered his most memorable performance in Super Bowl XXII on January 31, 1988, at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. He intercepted two passes thrown by Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway as Washington cruised to a 42-10 win. His first pick stopped a second-quarter Denver scoring opportunity, and the second shut down any hope of a Broncos rally.
That Super Bowl cemented Wilburn’s legacy during one of Washington’s most successful periods. After Denver’s Ricky Nattiel beat him for a 56-yard touchdown early in the game, teammate Darrell Green encouraged him: “Forget it, Barry. Don’t worry about that.”
Wilburn responded by making two game-changing interceptions that helped secure the title.
Wilburn’s career shifted after 1989 when a drug suspension kept him out for the 1990 and 1991 seasons. He later returned in 1992 with the Cleveland Browns, appearing in six games under coach Bill Belichick.
When NFL opportunities waned, Wilburn moved to the Canadian Football League. He joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1993 and earned CFL all-star recognition that same year. He then signed with the B.C. Lions in 1994 and helped them win the 82nd Grey Cup, a 26-23 triumph over the Baltimore Football Club decided by Lui Passaglia’s last-second field goal.
That Grey Cup win placed Wilburn among the small group of players to capture both a Super Bowl and a Grey Cup. He returned to the NFL in 1995 for two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles before concluding his professional career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1999.
In 91 NFL games, Wilburn amassed 246 tackles and 20 interceptions. Nearly half of those interceptions came during his remarkable 1987 campaign. His league-leading interception total and Super Bowl success that season placed him among the top defensive backs of his time.
After retiring, Wilburn continued contributing to the sport, including serving as a coaching intern at Howard University in 2007, where he worked with defensive backs. His family said he took great pride in his Memphis upbringing and the path his football career followed.
The fatal fire occurred in the Orange Mound neighborhood, an area where Wilburn maintained strong ties. The Memphis Fire Department is continuing its investigation into the incident.
Wilburn is survived by his two daughters, Jordan and Dominique Wilburn.
