Former Eagles cornerback Barry Wilburn was found dead after a house fire in Memphis, according to television station WMC. He is the second player from the Eagles’ 1995 roster to die in recent weeks.
WMC stated the fire occurred in the Orange Mound section of the city Friday morning around 2 a.m. Wilburn was pronounced dead at the scene.
Wilburn began his career with the Washington Commanders after the team selected him as an eighth-round draft pick in the 1985 draft. Wilburn was on the team that won Super Bowl XXII, defeating the Denver Broncos. He intercepted Broncos quarterback John Elway in the game.
He also led the NFL in interceptions in 1987 (nine), earning an All-Pro selection. Following stints with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and two Canadian Football League teams, Wilburn signed with the Eagles in 1995.
Wilburn played in 16 games for the Eagles and was a versatile player off the bench, finishing the season with 11 tackles. One of his biggest highlights came in a Dec. 18, 1995, game against the Buddy Ryan-led Arizona Cardinals, when he recovered Cardinals running back Garrison Hearst’s fumble in the Eagles end zone late in the third quarter for a touchback.
The Eagles defense did not allow another point, and they came back to win the game 21-20. The win clinched a playoff spot for the Eagles.
Wilburn returned in 1996 but appeared in only seven games, starting two. He finished with six tackles. After one more season in the CFL, Wilburn retired.
Wilburn’s passing is the second tragedy, following that of another former Eagles defensive player from the same 1995 roster, Kevin Johnson. Johnson, 55, was killed in California and his death is being investigated as a homicide, and potentially could be linked to a serial killer.
Johnson was selected in the fourth round of the 1993 draft by the New England Patriots but was cut by the team in August of that year.
After spending time on the Patriots’ practice squad, he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders before landing with the Eagles before the start of the 1995 regular season. Johnson quickly established himself in former Eagles head coach Ray Rhodes’ defensive scheme, finishing the season with six sacks, the third-highest total on the team.
