Nick Sirianni's praise resonates as Jalen Hurts silences doubters with honor

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts knows a thing or two about comebacks.

Think about those classic Detroit muscle cars, all rumble and resilience. Or bottom-of-the-ninth drama in a tight ballgame. That’s the vibe surrounding Philly’s signal-caller lately. Remember the whispers? The sideways glances after a tough loss? They’re fading fast, replaced by a different kind of buzz down at the Linc.

It’s like watching a master craftsman finally get his due. The pieces were always there – the grit, the work ethic, the quiet intensity echoing Philly’s blue-collar soul. But something deeper clicked, a switch flipped. Suddenly, the engine purrs differently. The doubters? They’re checking their rearview mirrors now, wondering what just blew past them.

The news landed like a perfectly thrown deep ball: Hurts is the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Pro Athlete of the Year for 2024-25. 

Boom. This isn't his first rodeo; he snagged the same honor back in 2022. Clearly, Hurts isn't just passing through the record books; he's setting up shop.

His latest triumph? Leading the Eagles to their second Super Bowl crown, snagging MVP honors in a dominant 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. He carved them up: 17-of-22 for 221 yards and a touchdown through the air, plus a Super Bowl quarterback-record 72 rushing yards and another score on the ground.

His playoff run was pure fire too—627 total yards and seven touchdowns across three wins. Meanwhile, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni’s admiration is palpable.

"He just keeps getting better," Sirianni stated after the Lombardi lift. "He knows how to win. He does a great job of being able to block out all the outside noise. I find it funny when it's like, you know, 'Well, Jalen Hurts is good because he’s got a good team around him.' Like, that’s football—you cannot be great without the greatness of others... Jalen Hurts is special and the criticism just blows my mind because I think he's so special and has won so many games and works his bu-- off and just continues to get better."

That’s the ultimate locker room stamp of approval.

This repeat ASWA honor cements his place among Alabama legends. He joins icons like Kenny Stabler, Ozzie Newsome, Derrick Henry, and Julio Jones. Furthermore, Jalen Hurts is now one of only eight athletes to win the award twice, rubbing shoulders with Henry, Cam Newton, Shaun Alexander, and Charles Barkley. That’s elite company, folks.

His regular season was no fluke either: a career-high 68.7% completion rate, 2,903 yards, 18 touchdown passes against just five picks, plus 630 rushing yards and 14 more touchdowns. Efficiency meets explosiveness.

Jalen Hurts: Cementing a Legacy

Hurts' journey reads like a gridiron epic. Remember the sting of the national title loss at Bama? The benching in the 2017 championship win? The heartbreak of losing Super Bowl LVII to those same Chiefs? Hurts absorbed it all. This latest Super Bowl victory wasn't just a win; it was redemption served ice cold.

"It's been a very unprecedented journey," Hurts reflected post-game. "The journey, it's always the beginning until it's the end, and I think it means a lot."

That resilience defines him. What does this mean for the Eagles? Stability. Leadership. A proven winner squarely in his prime.

Hurts is the franchise cornerstone, the engine driving a championship-caliber machine. His dual-threat ability forces defenses into impossible choices, creating lanes for Barkley and windows for Brown and Smith.

With Hurts under center, the Eagles' championship window isn't just open; it's wide open. His growth trajectory suggests even greater heights are possible. Can the Eagles build another juggernaut around him? That’s the billion-dollar question in Philly this offseason.

From a second-round pick to Super Bowl MVP and a repeat state Pro Athlete of the Year, Hurts has navigated an "unprecedented journey" with quiet determination. He’s answered every challenge, silenced every doubter, and lifted his team to the pinnacle.

As Teddy Roosevelt famously put it, "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena... who strives valiantly." Hurts isn't just in the arena; right now, he owns it. The journey continues.