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Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts opened up Monday about a time when he began to question whether he wanted to continue pursuing his football career.
During an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Hurts promoted his new book, “Better Than a Touchdown.” The hosts played a video from a fan who asked him if there was a time when he wanted to quit completely and how he was able to overcome his own doubts.
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) square off on the field in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 11, 2026. (Eric Hartline/Imagn Images)
“A time when I wanted to quit,” he said. “There was a time when I was actually just reflecting on this, there was a time in college where I really asked, ‘What’s going on? Where do I go from here?’ I had a lot of adversity ahead of me. I was counted out. I was in doubt. Broken down and dissected and all these different ways. I just held on.
“My passion overcame every ounce of doubt, overcame every ounce of fear. And I think that’s the first thing in life. … You have to have the courage to push forward. Without the courage and the perseverance and the resilience and the passion, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Hurts was the starting quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide when he began his collegiate career. He was replaced in the 2018 SEC Championship Game by Tua Tagovailoa, who eventually led the team to a comeback win over Georgia.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) after the anthem against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Lincoln Financial Field on Jan. 11, 2026. (Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)
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Hurts then traded to the Oklahoma Sooners for one more season. He was able to legitimize himself as an NFL prospect during the 2019 season.
He entered the 2020 NFL Draft and the Eagles selected him in the second round with the No. 53 overall pick. He was in a draft class with Tagovailoa, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Jordan Love.
Hurts was able to work his way into the starting spot and helped lead the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances, including a win over the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024. He is the only quarterback from the draft class to earn a ring so far.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) during NFC practice at the NFL Flag Fieldhouse in the Moscone Center South Building on Feb. 2, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
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During his career, Hurts earned three Pro Bowl selections. He has 17,891 passing yards and 110 touchdown passes. He won the Super Bowl LIX MVP award.
