Jalen Hurts struck gold on Monday, agreeing to a five-year, $255 million contract extension with the Eagles. But the Pro Bowl quarterback hasn’t taken a predictable path to being the NFL’s highest-paid celebrity. In reality, his monetary achievement is notable principally due to the roller-coaster trip that preceded it.
Here’s a timeline of Hurts’ journey from assured freshman to benched school QB to emergent face of the NFL:
June 5, 2015: A four-star recruit from Channelview High School in Texas, Jalen Hurts commits to taking part in school soccer at Alabama.
Aug. 17, 2016: Hurts takes a few of his first steps on campus as a member of the Crimson Tide. At age 17, he carries himself like he “owns the constructing,” searching for to ship a message to Alabama’s different QBs: he is right here to win in any respect prices.
Sept. 3, 2016: Halfway via the primary quarter of Alabama’s season opener, Hurts takes over for QB Blake Barnett and leads a 52-6 rout of USC — probably the most lopsided opening-day loss by the Trojans at school historical past.
Sept. 10, 2016: Hurts turns into the primary true freshman to begin at QB for Alabama since Vince Sutton in 1984.
Dec. 31, 2016: Hurts leads Alabama to the College Football Playoff National Championship after guiding a 14-0 document, together with the Iron Bowl and SEC title sport, and setting college information for complete touchdowns (36) and QB speeding yards (954).
Jalen Hurts at Alabama
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Jan. 9, 2017: Hurts and the Crimson Tide fall to Deshaun Watson and the Clemson Tigers in a 35-31 national-title defeat.
Jan. 1, 2018: Hurts guides Alabama again to the nationwide championship with a 12-1 end as a sophomore, together with a Sugar Bowl victory during which he received offensive MVP.
Jan. 8, 2018: Trailing 13-0 to Georgia at halftime of the nationwide championship, Hurts is benched for freshman backup Tua Tagovailoa, who proceeds to guide Alabama to a 26-23 additional time victory, sealing the comeback with a walk-off TD cross.
Sept. 3, 2018: Tagovailoa is formally named Alabama’s beginning QB for the 2018 season, leaving Hurts to play a restricted rotational position.
Dec. 1, 2018: Hurts replaces an injured Tagovailoa within the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship, scoring two TDs in a 10-minute span to guide a 38-35 comeback victory and seal a fourth straight nationwide title-game look for Alabama.
Jan. 7, 2019: Tagovailoa and the Crimson Tide endure a 44-19 nationwide championship loss to Trevor Lawrence and Clemson, with Hurts on the bench.
Jan. 16, 2019: Hurts pronounces that he’ll switch to Oklahoma for a senior season of eligibility as a graduate scholar.
Sept. 1, 2019: In his first sport with the Sooners, Hurts units a college document with 508 complete yards in a 49-31 victory over Houston.
Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma
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Dec. 14, 2019: Hurts finishes because the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, throwing a personal-best 3,851 yards and 32 TDs, to associate with 1,298 yards and 20 TDs as a runner, in a 12-2 season that will go on to finish within the CFP semifinal.
April 24, 2020: The Eagles choose Hurts within the second spherical, No. 53 general, within the 2020 NFL Draft, only one yr after signing beginning QB Carson Wentz to a four-year, $128 million extension.
April 27, 2020: Pressed to justify the funding in Hurts with such a excessive draft decide, Eagles basic supervisor Howie Roseman suggests the group needs to be a “quarterback manufacturing facility,” arguing Hurts will supply useful insurance coverage behind Wentz.
Dec. 6, 2020: Facing a fourth straight defeat at 3-7-1, with Wentz enduring his worst NFL season so far, the Eagles bench the previous MVP candidate for Hurts, who throws his first profession TD cross in opposition to the Packers.
Dec. 13, 2020: Hurts makes — and wins — his first profession NFL begin, main the Eagles to a 24-21 victory in opposition to the Saints.
Jalen Hurts throughout his rookie season with the Eagles
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Feb. 18, 2021: A month after dismissing Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson, then changing him with Nick Sirianni, the Eagles conform to commerce Wentz to the Colts, clearing the best way for Hurts to take over because the full-time starter.
April 29, 2021: Rather than use their prime draft decide on one other QB, the Eagles reunite Hurts with Alabama teammate DeVonta Smith, buying and selling as much as draft the extensive receiver No. 10 general.
Jan. 2, 2022: Hurts guides the Eagles to a successful document (9-8) in his first yr as a starter, throwing simply 16 TDs to 9 interceptions however main all NFL QBs in speeding yards (784) and TDs (10).
Jan. 16, 2022: Hurts turns into the youngest Eagles QB to begin a playoff sport at age 23, however struggles with three turnovers in a 31-15 loss to Tom Brady and the defending champion Buccaneers.
April 28, 2022: After reportedly exploring potential trades for veteran QBs like Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson, the Eagles as a substitute bolster Hurts’ supporting solid, buying star Titans receiver A.J. Brown, a longtime good friend of the QB, through commerce.
Sept. 10, 2022: Hurts’ friends in Philly and again residence in Texas champion the QB as an emergent chief on and off the sphere.
Nov. 3, 2022: Drastically improved as a passer, Hurts turns into the primary QB to ever lead the Eagles to an 8-0 begin.
Jalen Hurts in 2022
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Jan. 8, 2023: A month after clinching a second straight playoff berth in a rout of the Giants, Hurts and the Eagles beat New York once more to complete 14-3. Hurts, in the meantime, closes the common season with 35 complete TDs and simply six INTs as an MVP finalist.
Jan. 29, 2023: After routing the Giants but once more within the divisional spherical of the playoffs, Hurts guides the Eagles to a 31-7 victory over the 49ers within the NFC Championship sport, clinching the group’s second Super Bowl look in six seasons. At 24, he is the youngest QB in group historical past to safe a visit to the massive sport, forward of Nick Foles (29), Donovan McNabb (28) and Ron Jaworski (29).
Feb. 12, 2023: Hurts is traditionally productive in Super Bowl LVII in opposition to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, totaling 374 yards (together with a document 70 on the bottom) and 4 TDs, together with one within the ultimate minutes of motion, however he and the Eagles fall, 38-35.
April 17, 2023: The Eagles make Hurts the highest-paid participant in NFL historical past on a five-year, $255 million extension that ties the QB to Philadelphia via 2028. It marks the group’s largest funding in a QB since McNabb secured a historic 12-year deal in 2002, paving the best way for one of the crucial completed careers in Eagles historical past.
