Jalen Hurts

Jalen Alexander Hurts Bio

Jalen Alexander Hurts is an American professional football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. Selected by Philadelphia in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Hurts developed into one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks of his generation. He led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory since the 2017 season when he guided the team to a 40-22 win in Super Bowl LIX. Hurts earned the Super Bowl MVP award for his performance in that game, cementing his status as one of the premier players in the National Football League.

Hurts began his college football career at the University of Alabama before transferring to the University of Oklahoma for his final season of eligibility. He has earned three Pro Bowl selections, been named second-team All-Pro, and received the Bert Bell Award as the NFL Player of the Year in 2022. Hurts stands 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 223 pounds, bringing a rare combination of arm strength, running ability, and football intelligence to the quarterback position.

Early Life and Background

Jalen Alexander Hurts was born on August 7, 1998, in Houston, Texas. His father, Averion Hurts, served as the football coach at Channelview High School in Channelview, Texas, throughout his son’s entire high school career, providing a unique father-son dynamic on the football field. Hurts attended Channelview High School, where he emerged as one of the most highly recruited dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation and earned a four-star recruit rating among the top prospects in the class of 2016.

As a senior at Channelview High School, Hurts passed for 2,384 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 1,391 yards and 25 touchdowns, producing one of the most prolific statistical seasons in Texas high school football history. He earned second-team all-district honors as a sophomore and was named the District 21-6A Overall MVP as a junior. Beyond football, Hurts competed in powerlifting during his high school years and was squatting 500 pounds as a sophomore, eventually becoming a regional finalist in the 198-pound weight class.

Despite a strong recruiting push from Texas A&M, Hurts committed to the University of Alabama on June 5, 2015, and was recruited by Alabama defensive line coach Bo Davis and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. He was recruited to Alabama as a four-star quarterback and joined a program with a rich tradition of developing elite talent under head coach Nick Saban. Hurts completed a bachelor’s degree in communication and information sciences at Alabama in December 2018 and later earned a master’s degree in human relations from the University of Oklahoma in May 2023.

Path to the National Football League

Hurts made an immediate impact upon arriving at the University of Alabama in 2016, competing for the starting quarterback role during fall camp. By the second game of the season, he had taken over as the starter, becoming the first true freshman quarterback to start for Alabama in 32 years. His freshman season under Nick Saban was historic, as he threw for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 954 yards and 13 touchdowns, breaking the school single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year, and a Freshman All-American, and led Alabama to victory in the 2016 SEC Championship.

In 2017, Hurts led Alabama to an 11-1 regular season record and a College Football Playoff National Championship appearance, where he was named offensive MVP of the Sugar Bowl semifinal victory. After Tua Tagovailoa emerged as the starter the following season, Hurts remained a key contributor and famously relieved an injured Tagovailoa in the 2018 SEC Championship Game, leading Alabama to a comeback 35-28 victory over Georgia that secured a College Football Playoff berth. Seeking a clearer path to the starting role, Hurts announced on January 16, 2019, that he would transfer to the University of Oklahoma for his final season of eligibility.

As a graduate transfer at Oklahoma in 2019, Hurts shattered the school’s single-game yardage record in his debut with 508 total yards of offense against Houston. He helped lead the Sooners to a Big 12 Championship and a second College Football Playoff appearance, finishing the season with 3,851 passing yards, 32 passing touchdowns, 1,298 rushing yards, and 20 rushing touchdowns. His performance earned him first-team All-Big 12 honors, Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, third-team All-American recognition, and a second-place finish in Heisman Trophy voting. His dramatic improvement from Alabama to Oklahoma significantly boosted his NFL Draft stock, moving him from a questionable prospect to an early-round selection.

Jalen Alexander Hurts Career

Early Career (2020)

The Philadelphia Eagles selected Jalen Alexander Hurts with the 53rd overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Originally named the third-string quarterback behind Nate Sudfeld and Carson Wentz, Hurts was elevated to the backup role at Week 2 primarily for quarterback run packages and as a decoy. After Carson Wentz was benched for ineffective play, Hurts was named the starter for Week 14 and promptly led the Eagles to a 24-21 victory in his first NFL start, completing 17 of 30 pass attempts for 167 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 106 yards.

Hurts finished his rookie season with a mixture of strong performances and growing pains, including a 338-yard, three-touchdown passing game against the Arizona Cardinals. His benching in the Week 17 finale against the Washington Football Team in favor of Nate Sudfeld drew widespread controversy and allegations that head coach Doug Pederson was attempting to lose the game intentionally, leading to Pederson’s dismissal shortly after the season concluded. The Eagles entered the 2021 offseason with a new head coach and uncertainty at the quarterback position.

Philadelphia Eagles Breakthrough (2021)

New head coach Nick Sirianni named Hurts the Eagles’ starting quarterback for the 2021 regular season on August 31, 2021, and Hurts delivered a 32-6 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in his season debut with three passing touchdowns and a 126.4 passer rating. Throughout the season, the Eagles began integrating the Tush Push play, a quarterback sneak variation in which Hurts receives a push from a teammate to gain short-yardage conversions, which would become a signature element of the Philadelphia offense. During a Week 12 game against the New York Giants, Hurts suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him for one game, but he returned after the bye week and helped lead the Eagles to a playoff berth.

Hurts finished the 2021 season with 3,144 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns, 784 rushing yards, and 10 rushing touchdowns, leading all quarterbacks in the National Football League in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. In the Wild Card Round of the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hurts threw for 258 yards and a touchdown but committed two turnovers in a 31-15 loss. Despite the playoff defeat, the season established Hurts as the long-term franchise quarterback and laid the foundation for the team’s future success.

Super Bowl Season (2022)

The 2022 season represented a monumental leap forward for Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September after leading the Eagles to a 3-0 start with performances of 243 passing and 90 rushing yards against Detroit, 333 passing and 57 rushing yards against Minnesota, and 340 passing yards and three touchdowns against Washington. Hurts became the first Eagles quarterback to lead the team to an 8-0 record after a 29-17 victory over the Houston Texans, and he set an NFL record in Week 12 by becoming the first player ever to record 150-plus rushing yards, 150-plus passing yards, and multiple passing touchdowns in a single game during a 40-33 win over the Green Bay Packers.

Hurts finished the regular season with a 14-1 record, 3,701 passing yards, 35 total touchdowns, and a 101.5 quarterback rating, earning his first career Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honors. He was named one of five finalists for the NFL Most Valuable Player Award and finished second in the voting. In the playoffs, Hurts won his first career playoff game with a 38-7 victory over the New York Giants in the Divisional Round and then led Philadelphia to a 31-7 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game to advance to Super Bowl LVII. In the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs, Hurts threw for 304 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 70 yards and three touchdowns, setting a Super Bowl record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, but the Eagles ultimately fell 38-35.

Continuing Success (2023)

On April 17, 2023, Hurts signed a five-year contract extension worth $255 million with $180 million guaranteed, briefly making him the highest-paid player in NFL history. During the 2023 season, Hurts set the Eagles’ franchise record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season with 15, and he broke Randall Cunningham’s franchise record for total touchdowns in a season with 36. The Eagles won 10 consecutive games at one point during the season, though they ultimately lost in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hurts earned his second Pro Bowl selection for the 2023 season.

Philadelphia Eagles Era (2024-Present)

The 2024 season began with the Eagles traveling to Brazil for a regular season game against the Green Bay Packers, marking the first NFL regular season game held in South America. Hurts completed 20 of 34 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns in the 34-29 victory. After a 2-2 start to the season, he rebounded strongly and led Philadelphia to four consecutive victories, including a 34-6 blowout of the Dallas Cowboys in which he accounted for four total touchdowns. Hurts guided the Eagles to their fourth consecutive playoff berth with a 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 14, and he helped Philadelphia secure its first franchise 10-game win streak following a 27-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After suffering a concussion in Week 16 against the Washington Commanders that sidelined him for the final two regular season games, Hurts returned in time for the playoffs and led the Eagles to victories over Green Bay in the Wild Card Round and a dominant 55-23 win over the Commanders in the NFC Championship Game. In Super Bowl LIX, Hurts threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown, and led the Eagles to a 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs to avenge their Super Bowl LVII loss. He was named Super Bowl MVP, becoming only the third Black quarterback to earn the honor in Super Bowl history. In the 2025 season, Hurts led the Eagles to four consecutive victories to begin the campaign with a combined completion percentage of 79.9 percent and recorded a perfect 158.3 passer rating against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7, becoming the third Eagles quarterback in franchise history to achieve the milestone.

Driving Style and Strengths

Hurts is celebrated for his dual-threat capability, combining an accurate passing arm with elite speed and agility as a runner. His ability to extend plays with his legs and create opportunities outside of the pocket has made him one of the most dangerous scrambling quarterbacks in the National Football League. The Tush Push play, in which teammates push Hurts forward on short-yardage quarterback sneaks, has become one of the most effective plays in the NFL and exemplifies his physical toughness and running ability. His football intelligence and composure under pressure have drawn comparisons to some of the greatest quarterbacks in National Football League history.

Notable Events and Milestones

Hurts achieved a historic milestone in Super Bowl LIX by becoming only the third Black quarterback to be named Super Bowl MVP. He set the Super Bowl record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with three scores in Super Bowl LVII, and he finished that game with 20 total points scored, tying a Super Bowl record. He became the first player in NFL history to have three consecutive seasons with at least 10 rushing touchdowns each, and he holds the Eagles’ franchise record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback and most total touchdowns in a single season. In 2025, he was selected to the Time 100, a list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Jalen Alexander Hurts Career Wins

Jalen Alexander Hurts has accumulated a remarkable collection of victories and achievements across his college and professional career, spanning the National Football League and major college football competitions. From his record-setting performances at Alabama and Oklahoma to his playoff successes with the Philadelphia Eagles, Hurts has consistently delivered in high-pressure situations against elite competition.

Philadelphia Eagles Highlights

Hurts has led the Philadelphia Eagles to multiple division titles and playoff appearances since becoming the starting quarterback, with his most significant victory coming in Super Bowl LIX, where he threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown in a 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. He earned the Super Bowl MVP award for his performance in that game. Hurts previously guided Philadelphia to a 31-7 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game to reach Super Bowl LVII, and he has produced multiple signature victories including a 40-33 win over the Green Bay Packers in 2022 in which he set an NFL record by producing over 150 passing yards and 150 rushing yards in the same game with multiple passing touchdowns.

Other Wins and Performances

At the college level, Hurts led Alabama to the 2016 SEC Championship and a College Football Playoff National Championship appearance, and he helped Oklahoma to a Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff berth during the 2019 season. He earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year, and first-team All-SEC honors during his time at Alabama, and he received Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year and first-team All-Big 12 honors during his season at Oklahoma.

Jalen Alexander Hurts Family

Family Background and Football Lineage

Jalen Alexander Hurts was born to parents Averion and Pamela Hurts, and he has two siblings including a younger sister named Kynnedy and an older brother named Averion, who was named after their father. His father, Averion Hurts, was the starting quarterback at Texas Southern University and served as the football coach at Channelview High School throughout his son’s high school career. Football is deeply embedded in the Hurts family, and throughout his high school career, one of his parents attended Jalen’s football game each week while the other attended his older brother’s game.

Personal Life

Jalen Alexander Hurts married Bryonna Bry Rivera Burrows on June 14, 2025. She is his college sweetheart, and the couple maintains a private personal life away from the public spotlight. Hurts is a Baptist and has spoken openly about his faith, stating that he keeps God at the center of everything. He is the godfather to the daughter of his former Philadelphia Eagles teammate A. J. Brown. Hurts is also known for his advocacy for women in sports and employs an all-female management team that handles his social media, marketing, communications, and sports agent responsibilities. In 2022, he provided vocals on the Christmas album A Philly Special Christmas.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season opened with the Philadelphia Eagles hosting their rival Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Kickoff Game following their Super Bowl LIX victory, and Hurts completed 19 of 23 pass attempts for 152 yards and rushed for 62 yards and two touchdowns in the 34-29 win. He led the Eagles to four consecutive victories to begin the season, completing nearly 80 percent of his passes during that stretch. In Week 3, he accounted for four total touchdowns against the Los Angeles Rams, throwing his first passing touchdown of the season on a 33-yard completion to tight end Dallas Goedert.

After back-to-back losses to the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants, Hurts recorded a bounce-back performance in Week 7 against the Minnesota Vikings, passing for 326 yards and three touchdowns with a perfect 158.3 passer rating, becoming the third quarterback in Eagles franchise history to achieve a perfect passer rating in a game. The season included both a dramatic low point against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14, when Hurts threw a career-high four interceptions and fumbled once in an overtime loss, and a resilient Wild Card Round effort against the San Francisco 49ers, where he completed 20 of 35 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown in a 23-19 playoff defeat.