Jalen Hurts

Who Is Jalen Hurts?

Jalen Hurts is an American football quarterback known for his passing and rushing proficiency. He helped Alabama win the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship, and in 2025 he led the Philadelphia Eagles to victory in Super Bowl LIX.

His story is remarkable. It is one of resilience. It is one of reinvention. Most importantly, it is one of relentless excellence.

As the team’s starting quarterback, he has led the Eagles to a total of five playoff appearances, three division titles, and two Super Bowl appearances. He has also received three Pro Bowl selections.

Today, Jalen Hurts stands as one of the most celebrated dual-threat quarterbacks in NFL history.

Early Life: A Football Family From Channelview, Texas

Born Into the Game

Jalen Alexander Hurts was born on August 7, 1998, in Channelview, Texas. From the beginning, football ran in his DNA.

Jalen Alexander Hurts is the second child of Pamela (née Dewalt) Hurts, a special education teacher and department chairperson, and Averion Hurts, Sr., a high-school football coach at Channelview, Texas High School, where Hurts attended school and played football.

Therefore, Jalen did not just grow up watching football. He grew up inside it. His father’s sideline became his classroom.

Father Averion Hurts Sr. — Coach, Mentor, Role Model

Averion Hurts Sr. is the father of Jalen Hurts and a designated football coach at Channelview High School, Channelview, Texas. Averion had the opportunity to personally coach his sons during their formative years. During his college years at Howard Payne University, he actively participated in football and track, achieving All-Conference recognition as a senior offensive lineman and securing six All-American honors in track and field.

He has two sons — Averion Jr. and Jalen Hurts — and a daughter named Kynnedy with his wife, Pamela.

Mother Pamela Hurts — The Pillar of Strength

Jalen’s mother, Pamela Hurts, has reflected on the family’s journey and the roots of her son’s success. “He puts Channelview on the map,” she shared, radiating pride. “It’s incredible to see where he’s come from and where he is now.”

Furthermore, she emphasized the significance of his achievements as a Black quarterback: “There are so many stereotypes, but Jalen has proven himself through his intelligence, work ethic, and leadership.”

Siblings: A Football Brotherhood

Jalen’s brother Averion Jr. was the starting quarterback at Texas Southern University and is currently a college football coach at the University of Alabama. In contrast to the men in the family, his sister Kynnedy played volleyball at school.

High School: Channelview’s Dual-Threat Star

Dominance on the Field

Hurts attended Channelview High School in Channelview, Texas. His father, Averion, was the football coach at Channelview High School throughout his son’s high school career.

As a senior, he passed for 2,384 yards with 26 touchdown passes and rushed for 1,391 yards and 25 touchdowns. Hurts was a second-team all-district selection as a sophomore and was named the District 21-6A Overall MVP as a junior during his high school playing years.

Throughout his high school career, Hurts was rated as a four-star recruit and was ranked among the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the Class of 2016.

An Athlete Beyond Football

Jalen also participated in the sport of powerlifting and became a regional finalist in his weight class. Outside of football, Jalen was a passionate, hardworking young athlete. This multi-sport background built the physical foundation for everything that followed.

College Career: Alabama, Adversity, and Oklahoma

University of Alabama (2016–2018): Freshman Phenom

Hurts began his college football career with the Alabama Crimson Tide, leading the team to consecutive College Football Playoff National Championship appearances in 2016 and 2017.

Starting at Alabama in 2016, Hurts became a freshman starter for the Crimson Tide. He became the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year. He was the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Alabama in 32 years. That alone was a historic achievement.

The Benchmark Moment: 2018 Championship Game

In 2018 came the moment that defined his character. After Alabama fell behind in the championship game, Hurts was replaced by backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who helped Alabama rally to win in overtime, 26–23. Tagovailoa’s performance relegated Hurts to the backup quarterback role.

However, Hurts did not quit. He did not transfer immediately. Instead, Hurts chose to stay at Alabama in 2018, supporting his team and stepping up when it mattered most — leading a comeback victory in the SEC Championship after Tagovailoa was injured.

This moment revealed something essential about Jalen Hurts. He is a leader — even when the spotlight is not on him.

University of Oklahoma (2019): Video Game Numbers

Knowing he needed a fresh start to reach his full potential, Hurts transferred to the University of Oklahoma, where he thrived under head coach Lincoln Riley. “To my Bama family, once again, THANK YOU — for everything,” Hurts wrote in a farewell piece. “It’s been a great three years. I’ll love you until the end of time!”

At Oklahoma, he was completely unleashed. He racked up 3,851 passing yards and 32 passing touchdowns and added another 1,298 yards with 20 touchdowns on the ground.

He replaced Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray and finished second himself in Heisman Trophy voting. Furthermore, he was named First Team All-Big 12 in 2019.

NFL Career: From Backup to Super Bowl Champion

The 2020 NFL Draft: Philadelphia Eagles Select Hurts

Selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the 53rd overall pick, Hurts became their starter near the end of his rookie season.

He began as the third-string quarterback. He did not stay there for long.

Breakout Season: 2022

Hurts had a breakout season in 2022, leading the Eagles to their conference’s top seed and an appearance in Super Bowl LVII, earning him Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors.

He is one of five quarterbacks in NFL history to have 20 or more passing touchdowns and 10 or more rushing touchdowns in a single season. His dual-threat ability was no longer a promise. It was a proven force.

The $255 Million Contract (2023)

In 2023, he signed a massive five-year contract extension with the Eagles valued at $255 million, including a guaranteed amount of $180 million. His average annual salary is $51 million.

Philadelphia believed in him completely. They were right to.

Super Bowl LIX (February 9, 2025): Champion and MVP

Hurts and the team emphatically overcame a prior setback in the 2024 season. His passing statistics were more modest — just 2,903 yards — as the team instead relied on the prolific rushing game of newly signed running back Saquon Barkley. Philadelphia’s new formula proved to be a huge success.

It carried them to a rematch against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. There, Hurts outplayed opposing quarterback Patrick Mahomes, racking up 221 passing yards, 72 rushing yards — a Super Bowl record by a quarterback — and two touchdowns. With the 40–22 victory, the Eagles won the franchise’s second championship, and Hurts was named the Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player.

He attended Channelview High School, where his father coached him throughout his high school years. That journey — from his father’s sideline to Super Bowl MVP — is one of the most inspiring in American sports history.

2025 Season: Defending Champion

In the 2025 season, Hurts followed up his Super Bowl LIX MVP performance by passing for 1,860 yards and 16 touchdowns through Week 11. Those numbers are bolstered by 234 rushing yards and five more touchdowns on the ground. Crucially, he has only turned the ball over three times.

Week 11 of NBC’s Sunday Night Football featured Hurts and the defending NFL champion Philadelphia Eagles at 7–2, taking on the Detroit Lions in a high-profile NFC showdown.

Personal Life: Love, Family, and Purpose

Wife Bryonna “Bry” Burrows

Hurts married his longtime girlfriend Bryonna “Bry” Burrows in spring 2025, not long after he led the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory on February 9, 2025. The Eagles star confirmed his marriage in an interview with Men’s Health.

The college sweethearts first met while they were students at the University of Alabama. Their relationship came into the public eye in January 2023, when Burrows joined Hurts on the field as he celebrated his team’s NFC Championship victory.

Hurts had proposed to her in September 2024 in a romantic oceanside setting with rose petals, candles, and a live violinist.

Burrows is an accomplished tech-industry specialist who has worked for IBM in the field of artificial intelligence.

In May 2025, Hurts and Burrows stepped out together at the 2025 Met Gala, posing for a photo on the blue carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Legacy of Black Quarterbacks in Philadelphia

Hurts embraces the Eagles’ legacy of Black quarterbacks and maintains relationships with legends such as Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, and Michael Vick. Each of them motivated him growing up, as he used to watch their highlights for inspiration during personal workouts.

Community and Philanthropy: Giving Back to Philadelphia

Jalen Hurts is more than a great football player. He is a dedicated community leader.

Since making his home in Philadelphia, Hurts has given back to the community through his Jalen Hurts Foundation. In 2024, he donated $200,000 for air conditioners in Philadelphia-area schools to ensure students can stay comfortable during warmer months.

On February 5, just days before the 2025 Super Bowl, Hurts unveiled his new charity initiative, 1 Mission, to provide school supplies and support teachers and students in Philadelphia-area schools.

For the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative in 2024, he visited three patients at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to design a special pair of cleats to wear on gameday. The children attended a Week 14 matchup as his guests and were surprised with their own shoes sporting the same design they had collaborated on together.

Awards and Honors

His career accolades include: Super Bowl Champion (2024), Super Bowl LIX MVP (2024), Second Team All-Pro (2022), three Pro Bowl selections (2022, 2023, 2025), and the Bert Bell Player of the Year Award. In college, he won the CFP National Championship (2017) at Alabama, was First Team All-Big 12 (2019) at Oklahoma, SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2016), and SEC Freshman of the Year (2016).

Career Statistics Snapshot

Season	Passing Yards	Passing TDs	Rushing Yards	Rushing TDs	Notable Achievement
2022	—	22	—	13	2nd Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl
2023	—	—	—	—	Pro Bowl
2024	2,903	—	—	—	Super Bowl LIX Champion + MVP
2025	3,224	25	—	—	Pro Bowl
Career	17,891	110	—	—	—