Jalen Hurts, the celebrated quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, has achieved a great deal of success in a short amount of time in the NFL. However, this doesn’t mean that he has not faced challenges. It’s actually totally the opposite. In fact, Hurts has overcome adversity in various ways. Years ago, he was benched in college in favor of Tua Tagovailoa, who is now the quarterback for the Miami Dolphins. That little rivalry came to life once again on Sunday (Oct. 22), when Hurts and the Eagles beat the Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field.

Hurts managed to overcome those challenges and became a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2019. Not stopping there, he defied the odds once again by rising above his underrated status as a late second-round NFL Draft pick. By the end of his rookie year, he had already secured the starting position and proved his worth. And to top it all off, by the end of his third year, he had become a quarterback bound for the Super Bowl. It’s a Cinderella story that we love.

Jalen Hurts’ Secret Sauce in NFL

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni emphasizes the importance of Hurts’ mindset when discussing how his quarterback overcomes every obstacle in his way.

“He is just very steady in his mental makeup,” Siranni said about Hurts, via Sports Illustrated. “Focusing on the next play, the next game, and getting better…I think when you go through adversity, it’s common to think about what’s going to happen in the future…I think the mindset that Jalen has is to be locked in right where he is in the moment and handle the things that he can control … I’ve noticed that about him from the moment I’ve been around him and I think that that’s why (he has) thrived … his mindset of being locked in, his mindset of not being denied.”

Sirianni couldn’t help but express his joy in talking about his quarterback. That’s a quality that Hurts himself doesn’t often exhibit these days, despite deserving the praise. Hurts, really, seems never satisfied. That’s why, even after Hurts and the Eagles beat the Dolphins on Sunday, you didn’t see Hurts boasting about it. After the game, Hurts kept cool and calm and looked ahead to the rest of the season.

The final score of Sunday’s game was 31-17, with the Eagles winning. The Eagles’ next game is Sunday (Oct. 29) up against the Washington Commanders. This game is expected to be a blowout, with the Eagles heavily favored. But, time will tell how it shakes out.

By Anne Erickson anne@alternativefix.com