In acknowledgement of Black History Month, The Royal Gazette continues the publication of stories throughout February on African-American, Black Bermudian and global African people, events and institutions, and their contributions in history

Jalen Alexander Hurts is a professional football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League. He will lead his team against Patrick Mahomes II and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday. This contest will be the first time in NFL history where two African-American quarterbacks have led their teams to the Super Bowl.

Hurts played college football at the University of Alabama, where he was a part of the team that won the 2018 College Football Play-off National Championship. He entered the 2020 NFL Draft in the second round. During his time playing in the NFL, Hurts has been voted to the Pro Bowl (2022) and named Second-Team All-Pro (2022).

Hurts was born on August 7, 1998, to Pamela and Averion Hurts in Houston, Texas. Growing up, Hurts attended Channelview High School in Channelview, a Houston suburb. His father was the football team coach at Channelview when Hurts played for the team. During his senior year, Hurts passed for 2,384 yards with 26 touchdowns and rushed for 1,391 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Hurts graduated from Channelview High School in 2016. After graduating high school, Hurts attended the University of Alabama, where he played for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. During his first year, Hurts threw for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns. Hurts that season also became the first quarterback whom Nick Saban coached to rush for more than 11 touchdowns in a single season. He was also the first player in the history of the Alabama football team to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game. Hurts led the Crimson Tide to a win in the SEC Championship against the Florida Gators but he and the Crimson Tide lost to the Clemson University Tigers in the 2017 College Football Play-off National Championship Game. Hurts, nonetheless, was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year that season.

During his sophomore year, Hurts led the Crimson Tide to the 2018 College Football Play-off National Championship Game against the Georgia Bulldogs. He was benched during the game for poor play and future NFL quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would lead a comeback, winning the game against the Bulldogs.

During his junior year, Hurts would be the back-up quarterback to Tagovailoa, who led the Crimson Tide to the 2019 College Football National Championship Game where they lost to the Clemson Tigers, led by another future NFL quarterback, Trevor Lawrence.

During his senior year, Hurts transferred to the University of Oklahoma, where he played for the Oklahoma Sooners. He would lead the Sooners to the 2019 Peach Bowl, where they would lose to LSU Tigers. Hurts finished second in Heisman Trophy voting behind Joe Burrow, who would become the quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals with the No 1 pick in the draft.

The Philadelphia Eagles selected Hurts 53rd overall in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. During his rookie season, Hurts was the back-up quarterback to Carson Wentz and saw little playing time. During the 2021 season, Hurts led the Eagles to the play-offs where they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild-Card Round.

This season, Hurts led the Eagles to the best regular-season record in the league, and now awaits Mahomes and the Chiefs in the big finale.

Source:

“Jalen Alexander Hurts,” Players Bio, https://playersbio.com/jalen-hurts-early-life-girlfriend-and-controversy/; “Jalen Alexander Hurts,” 24 Celebs, https://en.24smi.org/celebrity/119358-jalen-hurts.html; “Jalen Alexander Hurts,” Pro-Football Reference, https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HurtJa00.htm