“He is a hero, not the hero we deserved but the hero we needed”. Truer words couldn’t be said about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. With a history of triumph over adversity, Hurts has been writing his hero story since college. From starting for the Alabama Crimson Tide for two seasons to losing his position to a young and fierce Tua Tagovailoa during his Junior year, many critics wrote Hurts off as a could ‘ve-been story – especially after he decided to remain at Alabama as a backup before transferring to University of Oklahoma for his senior year.
Jalen Hurts: The Hero Philadelphia Needed
Despite the noise from critics and fans alike, there’s always been a special Sauve about Hurts. He has adopted a unique ability to ignore any outside opinions and remain focused on the task at hand – winning. A rather quiet demeanor can be noticed about the way the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback carries himself, but one look into his eyes and you can see that therein lies a beast, controlled in chaos and bathed in adversity.
With the news of losing his starting position from one of college football’s most decorated programs, many reporters and scouts became unsure of how or if Hurts would make it to the next level. At 6 foot 1 inch and just under 220 pounds, he isn’t the ideal stature of an NFL quarterback, but his IQ proved to be levels ahead of his peers. Deciding to stay an extra year to support and mentor Tagovailoa before transferring to OU where he would have a breakout season as a Heisman Trophy finalist was the spark that would ignite a slow flame into a blazing fire in the epic of Hurts.
Drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Hurts would end his rookie season as a starter. In the 2021 season, the Eagles weren’t on anyone’s radar as a favorite to win the Super Bowl and that would prove to be true as they would exit with a 9-8 record in a 31-15 Wild Card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A Hero is Born
“It starts with mentality, the attention to detail, the attitude you have, and what our actions are”. These are the words from Hurts in a 2021 interview with CBS Sports that have carried on into the 2022 season. With well over 3,000 passing yards and an impressive NFC Championship win, Hurts and his Eagles are set to take on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.
While the Chiefs quarterback may have experience over Hurts, there should be no room for doubt on why this young man deserves to be on the grand stage. He is a testament to his unwavering focus and the want to succeed even when the odds are stacked against him. He is the hero that not only Philadelphia needs – but the NFL.
Taking it day by day. @JalenHurts | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/dPBucJbhSC
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 25, 2023
One thing for certain is that Hurts is a force to be reckoned with. He may not have had the easiest path to greatness but he is on track to building a legendary name for himself.
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Embed from Getty Images
