Alabama Football: Jalen Hurts creating value for himself and UA

Jalen Hurts is one of the most beloved Alabama football players ever. That fact was established long before the details of his new NFL contract were released. The Jalen Hurts story of purpose, determination and perseverance will be told long after his NFL playing career is over. He may already be accurately described as an Alabama Crimson Tide legend.

Focusing on just the numbers in Jalen’s new contract with the Philadelphia Eagles can cloud the more important story. The numbers are impressive with Hurts getting paid more money per season than any quarterback in NFL history. Also impressive is that in the five-year, $255M contract is $179M in guaranteed money.

The money is a measurement of value. The price tag for an NFL starting QB will continue to grow. With Jalen’s new contract, only he and Aaron Rogers surpass the $50M per season threshold. In a year or two, there will be other $50M per season NFL QBs. When there are more, and when one of them perhaps passes Hurts in annual salary, it will not diminish what Hurts accomplished to reach where he is today.

For Jalen, the path could have easily led to less. No doubt, his parents have much to do with Jalen’s character. They raised a fine man who chose a purpose.

That purpose was also nurtured by Nick Saban’s belief system that there are no shortcuts to success. Jalen accomplished much as an Alabama Football QB. He started as a true freshman and led the Crimson Tide to a National Championship game. He led the Crimson Tide again in the 2017 season, until in the second half of another National Championship game when a different set of skills were needed. The dignity and grace in how Jalen handled being benched for Tua Tagovailoa will always be remembered. As commendable as Jalen’s attitude was, it was far from his finest moment.

An Alabama Football Moment

That moment came almost a year later when after a Tua injury, Jalen came on late to lead the Tide to a victory over Georgia in an SEC Championship Game.

An Associated Press story provided the best description.

"He didn’t pout. He didn’t gripe. He didn’t transfer.On Saturday, Hurts got the call.Boy, did he respond."

Nick Saban said,

"I’ve probably never been more proud of a player than Jalen"

The following season Hurts transferred to Oklahoma. Nick Saban helped him pick the new program, knowing Lincoln Riley’s offense provided an excellent platform upon which Jalen could excel. Excel he did, with Jalen tearing up the Big 12.

Last season, in Philadelphia, others could see all the pieces come together for Hurts. And they did because those pieces came together in Jalen’s mind long ago.

What college team can claim Jalen? As it should be, both Oklahoma and Alabama football fans claim him, as do fans of the Eagles. Even outside those fanbases, it is easy to be a Jalen fan.