Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts Reacts to Critics: ‘I Thrill In The Hate!’
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts talked to TIME about dealing with doubt and pressure as a part of their 2023 TIME100 NEXT list.
“I find a thrill in the doubt, the hate, the disbelief,” Hurts said via TIME. "At this point in my life, it’s something I want you to do. Because it’s always been that way. Why would I want them to change their ways now?”
Hurts has been doubted since college, when he was benched in the National Championship game for current Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa who led Alabama to victory.
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From then he transferred to Oklahoma where he played one season before being drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft to be Carson Wentz's backup. That role didn't last long as he replaced Wentz as Philadelphia's starter and has never looked back.
The 25-year-old star quarterback is 21-1 in his last 22 starts, something that has only been done by six other quarterbacks since 1950.
“I’ve been at the mountaintop and the valley low,” Hurts said. “The thing that I understand is every year, it resets. Every year is a new challenge. And every year, those new challenges require a new work ethic and a new faith.”
Hurts played possibly the best game of his career in Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs. He accumulated 374 total yards of offense and four total touchdowns, but was unable to end the game with the ball in his hands as the Chiefs hit a game-winning field goal with eight seconds left to put them up 38-35 and secure the win.
Now, Hurts and the Eagles are on a quest back to the Super Bowl, one that has begun with a 4-0 start. Next up is a road matchup with the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 8 at 4:05 p.m.
