He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the eighth round of the 1985 NFL draft.

Wilburn had a breakout year in the strike-shortened 1987 NFL season after leading the league in interceptions recording 9 and was named to the first-team All-Pro.

Wilburn started in Super Bowl XXII that year and recorded two interceptions in their 42–10 victory against the Denver Broncos.

After his stint with the Browns, he then spent a few years in the Canadian Football League playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the BC Lions where he also won a Grey Cup title as a member of the 1994 BC Lions, making him one of only ten players[2] to have won football championships on both sides of the border (Super Bowl and Grey Cup).

After his CFL stint, Wilburn returned to the NFL signing with the Philadelphia Eagles but saw limited playing time.