Football

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts sets Super Bowl records in loss, aims to 'be what God called me to be'

By Kevin Mercer Feb 13, 2023
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scores one of his three rushing touchdowns during Super Bowl LVII, Feb. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Moments after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35, on Sunday night in Super Bowl LVII, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was already thinking about the future.

“You either win or you learn, that’s how I feel,” Hurts said in his postgame press conference. “Win, lose, I always reflect on the things I could have done better — anything you could have done better to try and take that next step.”

>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<

He expanded later, “It is a tough feeling to come up short. It’s a very tough feeling, but I know the direction is to rise, and that will be the M.O. going forward.”

Aside from a second-quarter fumble that was returned for a touchdown, Hurts played one of the best games of his life on the biggest stage. He threw for 304 yards and a touchdown on 27-of-38 passing, and ran for 70 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries, setting records for the most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns ever by a quarterback in the Super Bowl. His three rushing TDs tied the most in a Super Bowl by any player, regardless of position.

“To me, [Hurts] played the best game I’ve seen him play in the two years that we’ve been together. He was outstanding,” Eagles second-year head coach Nick Sirianni said in his postgame press conference. “I really thought he was in complete control. He did things with his legs in the run game. He did things with his arm in the pass game, made some unbelievable throws, unbelievable reads. I thought he played outstanding. … I’m sure glad he’s our quarterback.”

Hurts’ maturation as a quarterback is a big reason why the Eagles won 14 regular-season games this year and earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs. He tossed 22 touchdowns with only six interceptions, while rushing for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 regular-season games. The Eagles were 16-2 (including the playoffs) this year with Hurts as the starting QB.

His threat as a runner and a passer led a Philly offense that trailed only the Super Bowl-champion Chiefs in scoring offense this season, a far cry from where the Eagles were only two short years ago when they finished 26th. Hurts was a rookie and only played sparingly then.

Amid his rapid rise to NFL superstardom, the third-year pro has remained vocal about his faith in God. During a press conference in the days leading up to the big game, Hurts was asked about his faith.


“I really lean on Him and I try to keep Him in the center of everything that I do, because I know without God, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Hurts responded. “I wouldn’t be the man I am today without having that faith in Him, without integrity and leadership and diligence and all those things.

“I think the biggest thing is you get so influenced by so much around you, you just want to pray that you’re the person that God calls you to be. So that’s what I’m gonna do — be what God called me to be.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jalen Hurts (@jalenhurts)

Hurts is still only 24. With him, a good young nucleus of players around him, and a fiery 41-year-old head coach, the Eagles are optimistic about the future. Still, Hurts knows nothing is guaranteed, and nothing happens outside of God’s sovereign will. It’s a truth he can rest in.

“My strength comes from God. I know the importance of faith,” Hurts said during last week’s Super Bowl Opening Night. “I know what my foundation is with my faith, and nothing goes on without God.”

RELATED STORIES:
– ‘Child of God’ Harrison Butker hits Super Bowl-winning kick, Mahomes is MVP
– QB Jalen Hurts leads Eagles to Super Bowl as he puts his trust in God’s hands
– Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni ‘grateful to God’ for career trials ahead of SB
– WATCH: Eagles players share about their faith in God ahead of Super Bowl
– WATCH: Chiefs players share about their faith in God ahead of Super Bowl
– Chiefs coach Steve Spagnuolo grateful to ‘always have Jesus to fall back on’
– T.J. Edwards says ‘everything I do is for Him’ as breakout year helps Eagles to SB
– Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker: ‘I always pray for God’s will to be done’
– Haason Reddick led Eagles to Super Bowl, says he couldn’t ‘get here without God’
– Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes discusses his spiritual growth, being ‘fully in’ on God
– From cut to the Super Bowl, Eagles’ Brett Kern grateful ‘where God has brought me’
– Chiefs star Nick Bolton grateful for growth as ‘follower of Christ’ ahead of SB
– Eagles WR A.J. Brown aims to let God ‘direct my paths,’ is now in Super Bowl
– Dan Meers using role as Chiefs mascot to be ‘hands and feet of Jesus’
– Super Bowl-bound Eagles coach Nick Sirianni fueled by faith, family, football
– Owner Clark Hunt leads with faith in Christ as Chiefs prepare for Super Bowl
– Patrick Mahomes leads KC to Super Bowl, says God ‘healed my body this week’
– SS PODCAST: Eagles chaplain Ted Winsley on faith amid Super Bowl run
– SS PODCAST: Chiefs chaplain Marcellus Casey on faith amid Super Bowl run

Tags: