Jalen Hurts, a 25-year-old quarterback from Houston, Texas, continues to carve his path in the NFL with resilience and an unwavering commitment to growth. Born to Pam and Averion Hurts Sr., Hurts has consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to overcome adversity and excel on the field. His journey from leading the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide to being a key player for the Philadelphia Eagles embodies a story of perseverance and determination, marked by significant milestones and challenges along the way.
Hurts first gained national attention during his historic freshman season at the University of Alabama. At just 18, he led the Crimson Tide to a flawless 12-0 record during the 2016 regular season, showcasing his prowess and potential. The following year, he steered Alabama to an impressive 11-1 record, securing another trip to the national championship game against Georgia. However, a pivotal moment in his career came when Alabama head coach Nick Saban made the unexpected decision to bench him in favor of freshman Tua Tagovailoa during the title game.
Despite the setback, Hurts’s journey did not falter. He transferred to the University of Oklahoma, where he led the Sooners to a berth in the College Football Playoff. His exceptional performance earned him second place in the Heisman Trophy voting, just behind LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. Hurts also achieved an academic milestone by earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama.
His professional career took off when the Philadelphia Eagles drafted him in the second round. Since then, Hurts has appeared in two Super Bowls, one in Los Angeles and another in New Orleans. Eagles coach Nick Siriani has consistently praised Hurts for his ability to grow stronger after setbacks, highlighting his resilience and adaptability.
Hurts himself acknowledges that his journey is not defined by statistics but by personal growth and overcoming challenges. He often references his experiences and the adversities he has faced in both casual and formal conversations, emphasizing the importance of taking life one day at a time.
“I always say there is no arrival in this journey. All you have is the journey. And you have to take it one day at a time.” – Jalen Hurts
Hurts' upbringing played a crucial role in shaping his character and work ethic. He attributes much of his success to the influence of his father, Averion Hurts Sr., who was a head coach in Houston.
“I think that it’s underrated the role that a father can play in life,” – Jalen Hurts
“My father always told me I was different, he always talked about the ‘It’ factor. He coached so many kids and virtually raised so many kids being a head coach in Houston. He always told me ‘I don’t know what ‘It’ is, but you got it,’ but he never let it get to my head. He always encouraged me and forced me to put the extra work in and put the extra time in.” – Jalen Hurts
His parents instilled in him a strong belief in himself from an early age.
“Whenever I picked up something and said this is what I wanted to do, they instilled it in me to believe. So early on it kind of carried on as I found my love, my passion for football.” – Jalen Hurts
Hurts' outlook on life is one of constant evolution. He understands that every game requires a different version of himself and values learning from both successes and failures.
“I value myself on being able to learn from the good the bad take them all and to continue to improve.” – Jalen Hurts
His journey is marked by numerous experiences that have contributed to his personal transformation.
“For me it’s been a lot of experiences a lot of lessons a lot of transformation and being able to grow from things,” – Jalen Hurts
As he continues to face new challenges and embrace new moments, Hurts remains grounded in his character and principles.
“We have new moments. New moments and new times,” – Jalen Hurts
“I’ve been raised to be who I am. As the times change, the character doesn’t. I always try to never get too high, never get too low, and always give my best.” – Jalen Hurts
Leave a Reply