Jalen Hurts, the quarterback who led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl victory in February, is now focused on advancing his NFL greatness quest beyond that milestone. After winning the Super Bowl MVP by guiding the Eagles to a 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, Hurts aims to reach a level of dominance comparable to NBA legend Michael Jordan.
Former NFL quarterback EJ Manuel voiced his support for Hurts’ ambition during a recent appearance on NFL on ESPN’s Get Up, urging the young quarterback to maintain consistency to truly become a sports icon.
Consistency Key to Achieving Long-Term Greatness, Says EJ Manuel
Manuel emphasized the importance of Hurts’ dedication during the offseason as a strong indicator of his commitment to sustained excellence. Manuel highlighted that Hurts is not resting on his recent success but is instead pushing himself to attain greater heights.
“The biggest thing that’s at stake now is consistent greatness, and I love this from Jalen Hurts,” Manuel said (Timestamp: 1:00).
Manuel drew comparisons to legendary quarterbacks known for both their Super Bowl wins and prolonged dominance. He mentioned Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and Drew Brees as examples, praising Hurts’ potential to join their ranks as he approaches his sixth NFL season.
“I mean, you can see that he’s seeking more and more greatness to keep this thing going,” Manuel said. “So now, when you think about the great quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes who’s still currently playing, Drew Brees, all those guys were linked to winning Super Bowls and Jalen’s already done that now just going into his six season. So, I think the sky is the limit for this young man.”
EJ Manuel’s own NFL career spanned four seasons with the Buffalo Bills before a brief stint with the Oakland Raiders, concluding with his retirement in 2019, lending credibility to his perspective.
Offseason Insights: Jalen Hurts’ Meeting with Michael Jordan
During the NFL offseason in May, Hurts shared that he had dinner with Michael Jordan, the NBA superstar he admires for his competitive spirit and legacy. The conversation left a lasting impression on Hurts and fueled his desire to cultivate a similar mindset and approach in football.
“As competitive as he is, it would be unwise of me not to seek knowledge from him and lean on someone like that, so it’s something that I value a lot,” Hurts said. “One of the biggest things is taking it one day at a time. We have these goals and big dreams of things we want to accomplish, but ultimately, it’s a journey.”
“So take it day by day. Like I said earlier, being able to decode, detect and correct, and pretty much just refine. Refine the things that I need to so I can be at my best when needed.”
Hurts was selected by the Eagles as the 53rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Though his initial Super Bowl appearance ended in defeat against the Chiefs, this past February he led Philadelphia to a convincing victory in Super Bowl LIX, solidifying his status as an elite quarterback.
What Lies Ahead for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles
With his drive for consistent excellence and the influence of icons like Michael Jordan, Hurts is positioned to elevate his career to new heights. EJ Manuel’s endorsement underscores the expectation that Hurts has the potential to be remembered as one of the game’s greats if he continues on this path.
As Hurts enters upcoming NFL seasons, fans and analysts alike will watch closely to see if he can sustain his level of play, emulate the legacy of quarterbacks like Brady and Mahomes, and ultimately achieve a lasting place in NFL history while fulfilling his NFL greatness quest.