Barry Wilburn, a former top-tier cornerback renowned for leading the NFL in interceptions during the 1987 season and assisting the Washington Redskins in clinching Super Bowl XXII, has passed away at 62 years old.
Wilburn’s death was communicated by the Washington Commanders on Sunday. His family confirmed that he died in a house fire on February 6, 2026, at his residence in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Memphis Fire Department arrived at a reported house fire on Douglass Avenue in the Orange Mound neighborhood around 2 a.m. Firefighters found Wilburn unresponsive in a rear hallway. He was declared dead at the location. The fire’s cause is still being investigated.
“We’re saddened to learn of the passing of former Washington All-Pro and Super Bowl XXII champion Barry Wilburn,” the Commanders posted on social media. “Sending our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
Wilburn, born December 9, 1963, hailed from a prominent athletic family. His mother, Margaret Matthews Wilburn, earned a bronze medal in the 4×100-yard relay at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics as part of the legendary Tennessee State Tigerbelles, which also included Wilma Rudolph, Barry’s godmother. His father, Jesse Wilburn, was a football coach at Melrose High School in Memphis, where Barry excelled before beginning his college football career with the Ole Miss Rebels.
Wilburn was picked by Washington in the eighth round of the 1985 NFL Draft, the 219th overall pick. The 6-foot-2 cornerback exceeded expectations, despite being an eighth-round selection.
His career-defining moment came during the truncated 1987 season. Wilburn intercepted nine passes, leading the NFL, and received first-team All-Pro honors while playing alongside Hall of Famer Darrell Green in Washington’s defensive backfield. He also set a franchise record with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings—a record that stood for several years.
Wilburn’s most memorable performance was in Super Bowl XXII on January 31, 1988, at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. He intercepted two passes from Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway as Washington triumphed 42-10. The first interception took place at the Washington 21-yard line, ending a second-quarter Broncos threat. The second interception squashed any hopes of a Denver comeback in the second half.
His Super Bowl performance secured Wilburn’s place in franchise history during one of the team’s most successful periods. His teammate, Darrell Green, comforted Wilburn after Denver’s Ricky Nattiel scored an early 56-yard touchdown. “Forget it, Barry,” Green told him on the field. “Don’t worry about that.”
Wilburn took the advice to heart and made two key interceptions that contributed to the championship victory.
After the 1989 season, Wilburn’s career took a turn. He was sidelined for the 1990 and 1991 seasons due to a drug suspension before he made a comeback with the Cleveland Browns in 1992, playing six games under coach Bill Belichick.
When opportunities in the NFL dwindled, Wilburn moved to the Canadian Football League. He joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1993, earning CFL all-star honors in his first season. The following year, he joined the B.C. Lions and played a role in their 26-23 victory over the Baltimore Football Club in the 82nd Grey Cup—a championship decided by Lui Passaglia’s last-second field goal.
Wilburn’s Grey Cup victory made him one of the roughly ten players in professional football history to win both a Super Bowl and a Grey Cup. He returned to the NFL in 1995, spending two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles before a final CFL stint with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1999.
Across 91 NFL games, Wilburn recorded 246 tackles and 20 interceptions. His nine interceptions in 1987 alone constituted almost half of his career total. His achievements during the 1987 season—leading the league in interceptions and winning a Super Bowl—established him as one of the top defensive backs of his time.
Post retirement, Wilburn stayed connected to football, working as a coaching intern at Howard University in 2007, where he mentored defensive backs. He was known to be immensely proud of his Memphis roots and his football journey.
The fatal fire occurred in the Orange Mound neighborhood, where Wilburn held strong community bonds. The Memphis Fire Department is still investigating the details of the fire.
Wilburn is survived by his two daughters, Jordan and Dominique Wilburn.