Jalen Hurts

Jalen Alexander Hurts was born August 7, 1998, in Houston, Texas, into a family that would shape his football career from the start. His father Averion Sr. is a longtime high school football coach in Texas — most notably at Channelview High School — and Jalen grew up on sidelines, in film rooms, and around the culture of Texas high school football long before he was old enough to play organized games himself. His brother Averion Jr. also played college football.

Hurts attended Channelview High School outside Houston, where he played for his father and emerged as a top dual-threat recruit. He signed with Alabama, immediately starting as a true freshman and helping the Crimson Tide reach the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. After being replaced at halftime by Tua Tagovailoa in that title game, he transferred to Oklahoma for his graduate season, finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting in 2019 and leading the Sooners to another College Football Playoff appearance.

The Philadelphia Eagles selected Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, taking him as a potential long-term project behind Carson Wentz. When Wentz was traded to Indianapolis after the 2020 season, Hurts was handed the starting role, and his development since has been one of the most dramatic ascents in recent NFL history. By his third season he had led the Eagles to Super Bowl LVII and finished as MVP runner-up.

Hurts capped his ascent by delivering a Super Bowl LIX championship and Super Bowl MVP honors in early 2025, leading the Eagles to the NFL title with a dominant performance against the Chiefs. He is a multiple-time Pro Bowler whose combination of designed-run production, improved pocket passing, and short-yardage rushing with the Philadelphia 'Tush Push' has made him the most important offensive figure in one of the NFC's premier franchises.

Off the field, Hurts has become known for his methodical, deliberately understated media presence — a quiet intensity that contrasts with many of his peers and that has become part of his brand. He dated longtime girlfriend Bryonna Rivera ('Bry Burrows'), a Houston-area professional who has accompanied him throughout his career, and the pair has kept their personal life largely out of the public eye. He remains close with his family and has been publicly emotional about his father Averion's influence.

Hurts maintains major endorsements with Jordan Brand, Hulu, Bose, Toyota, and others, and he has been recognized for his community work in Philadelphia and Houston. His post-Super Bowl endorsement portfolio is among the most extensive in the NFL. With a championship secured before the age of 27, Hurts has positioned himself as one of the most accomplished young quarterbacks of his era.