WATCH: Jalen Hurts shares unique moment with fans after game
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts helped keep every fan’s dreams alive with a 20-16 divisional win on the road against the Washington Football Team. After the game, a unique set of circumstances left him surrounded by die-hard Eagles fans on his way to the tunnel and set off a special moment.
On his way to the tunnel, cameras followed the second-year quarterback on his path through the endzone and toward the locker room. As fans on either side of the tunnel reached out and tried to high-five Jalen Hurts, part of the barricade gave way and spilled several people into the tunnel beside the player.
After helping them up off the ground, Hurts stayed for a moment to hug, take pictures with, and talk to the fans who found themselves on the field. He then took off some of his gear and handed it out before heading down the tunnel again with security.
More about Jalen Hurts
The Philadelphia Eagles have been hesitant to commit to Jalen Hurts as their quarterback of the future. While the franchise used second round selection to bring him to Philadelphia, rumors have swirled that the Eagles aren’t convinced Hurts’ status as starter is final.
In his chance this season, he’s attempting to leave them with no other choice than to give him the keys to the car.
Hurts knows nothing is guaranteed in the game of football. At Alabama, he was pulled at halftime of the national championship. After biding his time and transferring to Oklahoma, Hurts became a Heisman contender.
The signal-caller has been continually overlooked throughout his career. Even in the NFL Draft, Hurts wasn’t mentioned among the top quarterbacks — Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert mentioned tiers above him.
Even when the Eagles drafted Hurts, they had Carson Wentz on their roster as their quarterback of the future. While that situation has since been resolved, Hurts has still be considered a placeholder for a different, future quarterback.
However, Hurts’ play in 2021 is making the Eagles think differently. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Hurts is also playing his way into making the Eagles believe he’s the future.
“If Hurts keeps playing like this, sources say, the Eagles would get their best outcome possible. No search for a QB, because they would have one for the future that they are excited about,” wrote Rapoport. “And the ability to use their definite two and likely three first-round picks on other positions to build their team.”
Instead of trading a kings ransom for a quarterback, or using draft assets to select a young quarterback, Hurts being the future changes everything.