When Jalen Hurts takes the field for the Philadelphia Eagles on February 9 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, he will be four days older than Tom Brady was when the New England Patriots quarterback made his second Super Bowl appearance. Hurts, at 26 years and 186 days old, will be one of only a few quarterbacks to start two Super Bowls at such a young age, joining Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes, who was also the opponent for Hurts’ first Super Bowl start.
Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs defeated Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII on February 12, 2023. The same matchup will take place again in Super Bowl LIX.
Hurts is only the seventh quarterback to return to the Super Bowl after losing his first appearance. Of the six others who did so – including the Kansas City Chiefs’ Len Dawson, Miami Dolphins’ Bob Griese, Minnesota Vikings’ Fran Tarkenton, Denver Broncos’ John Elway, and Buffalo Bills’ Jim Kelly – five are now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The exception is Craig Morton, who started in his first Super Bowl for the Dallas Cowboys and his second for the Broncos.
Since Jim Kelly in 1991, no quarterback who lost their first Super Bowl appearance has returned to the big game as a starter. However, Hurts’ return to the Super Bowl as a starter breaks that trend, with 29 quarterbacks who lost their first Super Bowl start and did not get a second opportunity as starters.
When Hurts was asked during a Friday press conference for his most memorable moment from his first Super Bowl, he replied, “Next question.” He responded more thoughtfully to the next question: What did he learn from that game, and how would he apply it this time?
Hurts said, “Hindsight is big. I think from a perspective that not many people have experienced it – everything that comes with the week – it’s important. It’s about being a good influence on the guys who haven’t been there before, answering questions, and helping everyone get closer before the game, because at the end of the day, it’s a business trip, and we’ve worked hard to get here. We want to take advantage of it.”
Hurts shared the advice he’s passed on to his teammates: “Take it a day at a time, be diligent, put in the effort, and work throughout the week.” He emphasized that the demands and distractions of Super Bowl week are simply “part of the job” that comes with the profession.
In his first Super Bowl, Hurts made history by becoming the first player in NFL history with 300 passing yards, 70 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns in the same game. The former Alabama quarterback also threw a touchdown pass.
Hurts’ second Super Bowl appearance comes after a strong learning experience, and despite the loss in 2023, he remains motivated by the lessons learned. His drive to improve continues as he seeks to use his past experiences to prepare for the challenge ahead.
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