For some, Jalen Hurts will never do enough to remove the labels that got assigned to him in his first two seasons of college football at Alabama. His limitations back then as a passer were obvious, and they held the Crimson Tide offense back. But Hurts has made significant strides since then, showing major improvement in college and continuing to get better in the NFL.
And yet, the same detractors remain, crediting the Eagles' success and recent Super Bowl victory, of which Hurts was named MVP, to a stacked roster. Philadelphia wins in spite of Hurts, not because of him. That's what so many continue to say.
The Eagles have an elite roster, no doubt, but Hurts has now played in two Super Bowls, and been terrific in both. Had the Eagles beaten the Chiefs two years prior, he would now be a two-time Super Bowl MVP.
The notion is that Hurts is a mere game-manager, and below the tier of elite quarterbacks in the NFL featuring Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and others. Just don't tell that to Hurts' head coach, Nick Sirianni.
"That's bullshi--," said Sirianni in an interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Jalen Hurts may never get the credit he fully deserves until he's done playing
Hurts is one of those guys who just isn't going to get the proper appreciation outside of the city he plays in until he hangs up his cleats. There are countless examples of guys like that in pro sports history, and Hurts is the latest in line. If his career trajectory continues, he's going to be remembered as one of the greatest winners in NFL history.
“I mean, he plays the most important position in all sports,” Sirianni said. “And it's the most ultimate team game there is. And what I admire about him is his selflessness of doing anything we need to do to win.
"I mean, obviously, anybody who plays quarterback is going to want to throw it 50 times a game. But he'll do anything. If he has to throw 50 times a game, he's ready to do that. If he has to hand it off 50 times a game, he's ready to do that.”
Hurts' passing stats are never eye-popping, but he is efficient. He ranked 10th in the NFL last year in QBR. Three years ago, Hurts finished 2nd in MVP voting before leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl.
He's climbed the mountaintop with the Eagles twice, getting them to the final game in two of the last three seasons. He outplayed Mahomes both times, beating him five months ago to deliver the Lombardi to Philadelphia.
He might not be appreciated in the way he deserves to, but he's forever an Eagles legend, and his city, and his head coach, are fully behind him.