Jalen Hurts is a prominent American football quarterback celebrated for his impressive passing and rushing skills
He was born on August 7, 1998, in Houston, Texas. Hurts made a significant impact in college football, playing for the University of Alabama and later for the University of Oklahoma.
During his time at Alabama, Hurts helped the team win the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship. In 2020, the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Hurts, and he led the team to Super Bowl LVII in the 2022–23 season.
In April 2023, he signed a five-year, $255 million contract extension with the Eagles, making him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL.
Early Life
Jalen Alexander Hurts was born to Pamela and Averion Hurts, Sr., in Houston, Texas. His mother, Pamela, is a special education teacher and department chairperson, while his father, Averion, Sr., is a high-school football coach at Channelview High School.
Jalen attended Channelview High, where he not only played football but also excelled in powerlifting, eventually becoming a regional finalist in his weight class. In 2015, he committed to playing football for the University of Alabama.
Hurts graduated from Alabama in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and information sciences. He later pursued further education at the University of Oklahoma, where he completed a master’s degree in human relations in 2023.
College Career
Jalen Hurts began his college football career at the University of Alabama in 2016 as a backup quarterback. However, during Alabama’s season opener against the University of Southern California, he was called to play, leading the team to a dominant 52–6 victory with both his passing and rushing abilities. By the end of the season, he had guided Alabama to the CFP National Championship game, although they fell short to Clemson. His outstanding performance earned him several honors, including the SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
In his sophomore year, Hurts once again took Alabama to the CFP National Championship game, this time against rival Georgia. Despite trailing at halftime, the team made a stunning comeback to win in overtime, though Hurts was replaced at halftime by backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. This switch relegated Hurts to a backup role for his junior season. However, he still made impactful appearances, such as leading Alabama to victory in the SEC Championship Game after Tagovailoa’s injury.
After graduating from Alabama in December 2018, Hurts transferred to Oklahoma for his final season. There, he achieved remarkable stats, including a personal-best 3,851 passing yards and 32 touchdowns, along with 1,298 rushing yards. His stellar performance earned him the runner-up position for the 2019 Heisman Trophy. Hurts led Oklahoma to the CFP semifinals, where they lost to Heisman winner Joe Burrow and LSU.
Professional Career
Jalen Hurts joined the NFL after being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Although he started the 2020 season as a backup quarterback, he seized an opportunity mid-season to showcase his talent.
During a game against the Green Bay Packers on December 6, 2020, Hurts came off the bench and made an immediate impact. His impressive performance earned him a starting role for the next game against the New Orleans Saints, where he threw for 167 yards, a touchdown, and ran for 106 yards, leading the Eagles to a 24–21 victory. This made him the first quarterback in NFL history to throw a touchdown and rush for over 100 yards in his first start.
Hurts continued to develop his skills, and by the 2022 season, he led the Eagles to a stellar 14-3 record, winning all but one of his starts. With 22 passing touchdowns and 13 rushing touchdowns, Hurts played a key role in securing the top spot in the National Football Conference. His efforts took the Eagles all the way to Super Bowl LVII, although they narrowly lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. For his outstanding play throughout the season, Hurts was named to his first Pro Bowl and was a finalist for the NFL Most Valuable Player award.