NEW ORLEANS – From being benched in college to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy as Super
Bowl MVP, Jalen Hurts’ journey has been defined by perseverance. On the biggest stage, in
front of millions, he proved once and for all that he was more than capable of leading the
Philadelphia Eagles to a championship. With a masterful performance in Super Bowl LIX, Hurts
silenced critics who had long questioned whether he could throw well enough to win it all.
Facing the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, Hurts was nothing short of spectacular,
completing 17 of 22 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns while adding 72 rushing yards
on the ground. His poise and precision were on full display, as he dissected the Chiefs’ defense
with pinpoint throws, including a 46-yard touchdown strike to DeVonta Smith that all but sealed
the Eagles’ 40-22 victory.
“This moment means everything,” Hurts said postgame, holding the Super Bowl MVP trophy.
“I’ve been through a lot, but I never let the outside noise dictate who I am. I always believed in
myself, and this team believed in me.”
From College Adversity to NFL Greatness
Hurts’ road to this moment has been anything but easy. As a freshman at Alabama, he led the
Crimson Tide to a national championship appearance, but after struggling in the title game the
following year, he was benched at halftime for Tua Tagovailoa. Instead of crumbling, he stayed,
supported his teammates, and later transferred to Oklahoma, where he reinvented himself as a
passer and became a Heisman finalist.
Even entering the NFL, many doubted whether he had the arm talent to succeed at the next
level. Drafted in the second round in 2020, skeptics said he was merely a gadget player, a run-
first quarterback who couldn’t read defenses well enough to thrive as a passer.
As recently as last offseason, national analysts questioned whether he could lead the Eagles to
a championship, claiming he wasn’t a polished enough thrower. But Hurts never listened to the
noise. He put in the work, improved his mechanics, and continued to prove his doubters wrong.
Super Bowl MVP: The Ultimate Statement
Against the Chiefs, Hurts put on a quarterbacking clinic. He made throws to every level of the
field with accuracy, managed the game with composure, and used his legs strategically to
extend drives. The Eagles built a commanding 24-0 halftime lead, and despite a brief Chiefs
rally, they never looked back.
“He’s the heart and soul of this team,” said Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni. “People have
doubted him his whole life, but we’ve never doubted him in this building. He’s our guy, and
tonight he showed the world why.”
Hurts’ leadership has always been his defining trait, but now, with a Super Bowl MVP and
championship to his name, his resume speaks for itself. The player who was once told he
wasn’t good enough to be an NFL quarterback is now on top of the football world.
“I’ve always said, ‘Keep the main thing the main thing,’” Hurts said, smiling as confetti fell
around him. “This is just the beginning.”
