Jalen Hurts, The Ultimate Leader
Jalen Hurts will never put up the gaudy passing numbers of Jared Goff, Joe Burrow, or Justin Herbert. But what he has is “it”. An indefinable quality that transcends football. He has the adaptability, calmness, and confidence that elevate the performance of those around him. That is what makes Jalen Hurts the ultimate leader.
Hurts has 10, 4th quarter comebacks under his belt since taking over as the Eagles’ starting quarterback (per Pro Football Reference). The most recent came in last Sunday’s 33-26 victory over the LA Rams. Hurts and the Eagles offense came alive after being down two scores going into the third quarter, throwing multiple touchdowns after being stagnant on the ground and through the air in the first half. The game came down to the final play in which defensive tackle Jordan Davis blocked a game winning field goal attempt and returned it for a touchdown to put the game away. In the postgame interview with NBC’s Maria Taylor, Hurts said he knew that Davis was going to make the game saving play. You could see the gratitude that Davis had for Hurts having that belief in him. This confidence is seen throughout the entire team. On Sunday I witnessed what Philly fans have known for years. Hurts is a force multiplier.
Poise Under Pressure
Jalen Hurts was pressured 18 times and sacked twice by a LA Rams pass rush that was hunting him down all game long. But when the game was on the line, he was near perfect completing 7 of 9 passes of 10+ air yards for 154 yards and two touchdowns (per Next Gen Stats). You can always expect Hurts to elevate his play when the game is on the line.
He has accumulated a near 100 passer rating while also completing nearly 70% of his passes in the fourth quarter through the first three weeks of the 2025 season. All of which have been one score games so far (per NFL Situational Stats). This efficiency during clutch moments is why his teammates have that mutual confidence in him to perform and deliver in crunch time.
Leadership Beyond the Box Score
Hurts leadership can’t be quantified by his stats. He also commands the room with a calm and dialed in presence that dictates the tone for the whole team. Because of this, the Eagles do not fall into the emotional rollercoaster of an NFL game. The Eagles play with a relaxed focus. They are always dialed in on what they need to do on the next play. Hurts is the epitome of that fighting spirit that the city of Philadelphia embodies. The resiliency and toughness that he displays trickles down throughout the entire team. His presence on the field gives his teammates the reassurance that even if they’re down, they’re never out. His statistics will never be the flashiest in the NFL, but his clutch, mental toughness, and his belief in his team elevates the entire Eagles organization. Jalen Hurts is not just their quarterback, he is their undisputed leader.