In February 2025, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was driving excessive following his monumental Tremendous Bowl LIX win in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs — however that is not all he was celebrating. He additionally scored the sport’s extremely coveted MVP award. “Primary, protection wins championships,” Hurts informed sideline reporter Erin Andrews on the sector, swiftly giving his fellow teammates credit score for the dominant win. (We all know what you are considering — is Hurts actually as good as he appears? The quick reply is sure.)

Sadly, it isn’t been all Tremendous Bowl rings and Pete Rozelle trophies for the star soccer participant. “God is nice — even within the highs and the lows,” Hurts mentioned after being awarded MVP. Make no mistake, these aren’t simply empty phrases for Hurts. Through the years, Hurts has skilled his fair proportion of lows, tragic moments, and, sure, even hurts. The Jordan Model even created a complete Tremendous Bowl industrial referred to as “Love, Hurts,” highlighting all of the methods in which individuals have underestimated the participant all through the years. Let’s get into it, lets?

It is no secret that Jalen Hurts had an superior school soccer profession on the College of Alabama. Alas, after main his staff to the 2018 Nationwide Championship recreation in opposition to the College of Georgia, he fell quick throughout the first half. His efficiency was so dangerous that head coach Nick Saban made the powerful resolution to bench his star participant in favor of the staff’s backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. In the long run, Tagovailoa turned the sport round, guaranteeing a victory over the Bulldogs, 26-23. Following the victory, Hurts was relegated to the backup quarterback function whereas Tagovailoa ascended. Ultimately, Hurts opted to switch to the College of Oklahoma to complete out his school soccer profession. 

All disappointment apart, Hurts was cautious to make use of the painful second to make him higher, not bitter. He even alluded to it throughout the post-game Tremendous Bowl press convention. “I am that very same child that went to the Nationwide Championship and misplaced and went again and acquired benched and needed to switch and needed to undergo this simply unprecedented journey,” he recalled (through X, previously Twitter). “That child at all times stored the primary factor, the primary factor, and at all times was true to his imaginative and prescient and what he noticed.”

Jalen Hurts wasn’t precisely given the warmest welcome when he joined the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2020, Hurts was drafted because the Eagles’ second-round decide. The transfer was a controversial one provided that the staff had already secured quarterback Carson Wentz the 12 months prior with a hefty four-year, $128 million contract. Not solely had been the followers offended, nevertheless it’s extensively rumored that Wentz was unpleased with the choice as effectively. “Carson was the captain of the cool youngsters’ desk. He’d deal with Jalen, actually among the finest guys you’ll ever wish to meet, like he wasn’t there,” a supply claimed (through Bleeding Inexperienced Nation). Little doubt, Hurts arrival fractured his relationship with Wentz.

Sadly, Hurts wasn’t oblivious to the backlash. “My first 12 months right here, I imply, they in all probability did not even wish to draft me right here,” he revealed years later throughout a press convention. On the time, nevertheless, Hurts appeared unfazed by the icy reception. “Jalen is ultra-focused, and he is centered on the method of how he will get higher on daily basis,” the Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni gushed about his staff’s backup QB in 2020 (through The Guardian). “He isn’t centered on what his subsequent contract is likely to be, or what we’ll do in three weeks, or what the result of this season is, or something like that.”

In fact, Tremendous Bowl LIX was not Jalen Hurts’ first rodeo when it got here to the large recreation. In 2023, Hurts discovered himself going through down the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Tremendous Bowl LVII. Sadly, Hurts and the Eagles finally got here up quick that 12 months, with the Chiefs taking dwelling the 38-35 victory. “It is powerful,” Hurts informed the reporters throughout a post-game interview concerning the gut-wrenching loss. Nonetheless, Hurts was decided he was going to make use of the expertise. “You both win, otherwise you study,” he declared.

As destiny would have it, Hurts acquired a second likelihood to settle the rating in 2025 when the Eagles performed in opposition to the Chiefs throughout Tremendous Bowl LIX. In line with the quarterback, it was the final Tremendous Bowl loss that “enhanced [his] want to win” in 2025. “It lit a fantastic flame in me,” Hurts informed reporters within the post-game interview, recent off the victory.

For extra on Tremendous Bowl LIX, learn concerning the worst-dressed celebrities on the recreation.