Hurts had an exceptional performance on Sunday, showcasing possibly the best display of his career, whether in college or the pros. The 26-year-old broke a new Super Bowl record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 72 yards. He also completed 17 out of 22 passes for 221 yards, throwing two touchdowns and one interception as his team utterly dominated the Chiefs.
His quarterback skills drew much-deserved praise, but leading a team to victory in the Super Bowl wasn’t always part of Hurts’ plan. His introduction to the grand stage happened in 2017 when he steered his Alabama Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff national championship game. Unfortunately, this marked Hurts’ initiation into disappointment, as Alabama lost a nail-biter to Clemson, 35-31.
The following year, he returned to the championship game but found himself benched for Tua Tagovailoa at halftime due to a lackluster performance. Despite Tagovailoa’s heroics leading Alabama to an overtime win against Georgia, Hurts was relegated to a backup role in the subsequent season.
Facing this setback head-on, Hurts made the decision to transfer to Oklahoma, where he successfully rebuilt his career as an NFL prospect. In the year 2023, he had the chance to make history on the grandest stage of them all, guiding the Eagles to the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite his stellar performance, Hurts suffered another defeat.
Reflecting on his journey, Hurts shared with CNN, “Everything happens right on time. You just have to run your race and stay the course. It’s been a journey of highs and lows, providing me with opportunities to learn and grow. I never shied away from challenges, nor did I allow setbacks to deter me from my aspirations of becoming the best man, leader, and player I can be. Finding myself in Philadelphia, making history, and bringing another championship to this city, it holds profound meaning for me.”
Kyle Feldscher from CNN contributed to this report. To stay updated with the latest CNN news and newsletters, create an account at CNN.com.
