Following Super Bowl loss, Jalen Hurts faces tall odds to get back
In his second season as the full-time starter, quarterback Jalen Hurts put together an MVP-worthy campaign, helping lead the Philadelphia Eagles to Super Bowl LVII. The 24-year-old has seemingly only begun to crack the surface of his potential moving forward, but if history is any indication, the odds Hurts will reach another Super Bowl aren't favorable.
The last 17 quarterbacks to lose their Super Bowl debuts have yet to return to the biggest game in sports. Among them, 13 are no longer active, leaving only Matt Ryan, Jared Goff, Jimmy Garoppolo and Joe Burrow as the only quarterbacks on the list that still have a shot.
Aside from Burrow, Hurts might be the only quarterback on the list with a realistic chance of bucking the trend.
If there were still any doubts about his abilities, Hurts put them to rest following an outstanding performance in the Super Bowl, albeit in a loss. Hurts finished 27-of-38 for 304 yards and a touchdown through the air, boasting a 103.4 passer rating. On the ground, Hurts rushed for 70 yards and three scores, both Super Bowl records for a QB. According to Pro Football Focus, Hurts' 92.9 passing grade tied for the second-best in the Super Bowl since PFF began tracking the statistic.
Hurts undoubtedly has the makeup to overcome what's become a first-time loser's curse in the NFL's game of games. After the Eagles' loss, Hurts has said all the right things and seems more motivated than ever after coming so close to reaching the pinnacle of his sport.
"I'm going into year four hungrier than ever, starving for more," Hurts told reporters via Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philly. "And I just want to challenge myself to be the best quarterback, leader and man I can be for my teammates and this city and impact the people around me in the right way. So maybe the next time around we can finish it off the way we want to."
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