Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Finds Joy at Pro Bowl, But What About Next Season?

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts seemed to enjoy himself, something he didn't always seem to do during the regular season.

PHILADELPHIA - Jalen Hurts was in Orlando, and he was smiling.

It was a sight not often viewed in Philly during the season, but the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback was enjoying himself in central Florida during the Pro Bowl activities. 

So what if he couldn’t lasso a high pass while trying to recreate the Philly Special pulled off so magnificently in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LVII victory during Sunday’s flag football competition between the NFC and AFC?

There was no stress, no pressure, no losing streaks the likes he had never seen in his career before the Eagles ended the year 1-6. It was all behind him.

Sometimes that is the concern with Hurts, that he doesn’t take the time to enjoy himself playing the game, that perhaps he is wound too tightly.

He says the only thing that matters is winning, and that’s what makes the game fun for him. He talks about the process, of getting better every day, but where’s the joy?

Hurts and I had a telling exchange two days after Christmas when I asked him about the 24-hour rule players talk about, which means enjoying a win for that length of time before turning the page, and how he enjoys a win within those 24 hours.

Jalen Hurts smiling and havig fun at Pro Bowl / USA Today

After a long pause, Hurts said: “I got nothing for that one. I don’t know.”

So, I dug in: “You don’t do anything to celebrate, maybe a good meal with family and friends, something?”

“I go try to win the game,” he responded. “Once that’s accomplished, you’re kind of back to the drawing boards of seeing how you grow from the things that you didn’t do at a high level, and maybe you did do as well. Winning is the only thing that matters, but there’s so much value in the experiences that we have in playing the game – every rep, every different look that we get.

“That’s something that I honor just in playing my position, and being who I am for the team because it’s truly about growth, it’s truly about learning, and the lessons and finding those lessons in everything you do. It’s just a journey. But winning is fun, everybody likes that.”

Then came Hurts’ final news conference nine days after the season ended, mercifully, in the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He immediately began talking about next year.

“Ready to get back to rocking,” he said.

Yeah, but when will that journey begin again, how much time off will you allow yourself to enjoy yourself, I asked.

“Reality, unfortunately...the reality is it’s already begun,” he answered. “The journey for this next year has already begun. The eagerness and the passion for that is only enhanced that much more.”

Hurts, Lamb Take Trip Down Memory Lane at Pro Bowl

When times get tough, and they sure did get very tough for the Eagles over the final two months, reports begin to surface questioning a lot of different things.

For Hurts, rightly or wrongly, the questions were about his leadership style, his “chill” demeanor, and his perceived aloofness sitting by himself on the bench while the defense is on the field. All questions the QB took issue with in his final news conference.

“There are things that were once said that made me great, to make me special, a special leader, an impacting and uplifting guy that maybe one may find as an issue now,” he said.

Hurts said that each season requires a different version of a person, so maybe there is hope that he will try to have fun, or at least show that he is.

Maybe smile more, find some joy, and let it show. Or not.

“It’s time to get back to work,” he said. “A little soon, but it’s time to get back to work. I ain’t running from anything.”