Early Life and Education of Jalen Hurts: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Jalen Hurts. A timeline of key moments.

Jalen Hurts is a professional American football quarterback currently playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL. He is known for his dual-threat abilities as a passer and runner. Hurts was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has shown promise as a franchise quarterback, leading the Eagles to the playoffs and demonstrating leadership on and off the field. His career is still developing, but he has already established himself as a notable player in the league.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1984: Last True Freshman Starter Before Hurts

In 1984, Vince Sutton was the last true freshman to start at quarterback for Alabama before Jalen Hurts in 2016.

August 7, 1998: Jalen Hurts' Birth

On August 7, 1998, Jalen Alexander Hurts was born. He would later become a professional football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Others born on this day/year

2014: Previous Touchdown Record

In 2014, Blake Sims set the previous record for touchdowns in a single season for the Crimson Tide with 35, before Jalen Hurts broke it in 2016.

June 5, 2015: Commitment to the University of Alabama

On June 5, 2015, Jalen Hurts committed to the University of Alabama despite strong recruiting efforts from Texas A&M.

2015: Previous Single-Game Yardage Record

In 2015, Baker Mayfield put up 396 yards of total offense against Akron, setting the previous single-game yardage record at Oklahoma that Jalen Hurts broke on September 1, 2019.

November 30, 2016: Manning Award Finalist

On November 30, 2016, Jalen Hurts was declared one of the ten finalists for the Manning Award, given to the nation's top college quarterback.

December 3, 2016: SEC Championship Victory and Awards

On December 3, 2016, Jalen Hurts led his team to win the 2016 SEC Championship and was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year.

December 6, 2016: Sports Illustrated Cover Feature

On December 6, 2016, Jalen Hurts was featured on the cover page of Sports Illustrated College Football Playoff magazine.

2016: Starting Quarterback for Alabama

In 2016, Jalen Hurts became the starting quarterback for Alabama, taking over the role by the second game of the season.

2016: Historic Freshman Season at Alabama

In 2016, Jalen Hurts had a historic freshman season, throwing for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns, rushing for 954 yards and 13 touchdowns, and breaking the school single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback.

2016: Rated Top Dual-Threat Quarterback

In 2016, Jalen Hurts was rated as a four-star recruit and was ranked among the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the Class of 2016 during his high school career.

January 9, 2017: Loss in the College Football Playoff National Championship

On January 9, 2017, top-seeded Alabama, led by Jalen Hurts, lost the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship against the Clemson Tigers.

2017: Regular Season Record and College Football Playoff Qualification

In 2017, Jalen Hurts led the Tide to an 11-1 regular season record, losing to Auburn in the finale but still qualifying for the College Football Playoff.

2017: Passing and Rushing Statistics

Jalen Hurts concluded the 2017 season with 2,081 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns, one interception, 855 rushing yards, and eight rushing touchdowns.

December 2018: Completion of B.A. Degree

In December 2018, Jalen Hurts completed his B.A. in communication and information sciences.

2018: Benched in National Championship Game

During the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship against Georgia, Jalen Hurts was benched at halftime in favor of Tua Tagovailoa.

2018: Backup Role and Playing Time

In 2018, Jalen Hurts played in a backup role, earning significant playing time and making ten appearances in the regular season, passing for seven touchdowns.

2018: Offensive MVP in Sugar Bowl Semifinal

In 2018, Jalen Hurts was the offensive MVP for Alabama's win against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl semifinal.

2018: SEC Championship Game Comeback Victory

In the 2018 SEC Championship Game, Jalen Hurts relieved an injured Tua Tagovailoa and led Alabama to a comeback victory against Georgia, securing a spot in the College Football Playoff.

January 16, 2019: Transfer to the University of Oklahoma

On January 16, 2019, Jalen Hurts announced he would transfer to the University of Oklahoma for his final year of eligibility as a graduate transfer.

September 1, 2019: Record-Breaking Debut as a Sooner

On September 1, 2019, Jalen Hurts shattered Oklahoma's single-game yardage record in a debut, putting up 508 yards of total offense against Houston.

2019: Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff Appearance

In 2019, Jalen Hurts helped lead Oklahoma to a Big 12 Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting.

April 17, 2023: Signed Contract Extension

On April 17, 2023, Jalen Hurts signed a five-year contract extension for $255 million, making him the highest paid player in NFL history at the time and including a no-trade clause.