By Zahra Bokhari

Jalen Hurts has continuously redefined what it means to be an MVP, both on and off the football field. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated remarkable resilience and is a role model for dedication and perseverance. His journey—from relentless improvement on the field to his efforts in giving back to the community through creating the Jalen Hurts Foundation—exemplifies Black excellence in sports and beyond. In addition to being a star on the football field, Jalen Hurts ran track and field for the AAU in 2005 and 2006, showcasing versatility in what it means to be an athlete.

Hurts was born on August 7, 1998, in Houston, TX. His career in football was no surprise, as his father, Averion Hurts, was his coach at Channelview High School in Channelview, TX. In his high school career, he was named the District 21-6A Overall MVP. However, football and track weren’t the only sports that piqued his interest. As a sophomore for his high school's powerlifting team, he was also a regional finalist in the 198-pound weight class.

After high school, Hurts began his collegiate career at the University of Alabama, playing for the Crimson Tide. As a freshman, he rushed a total of 954 yards, breaking the previous record for the school single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback.  After defeating the Florida Gators in the 2016 SEC Championship, Hurts was awarded SEC Offensive Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year for his outstanding performance.

The following season, Hurts was awarded Offensive MVP for the 2018 Sugar Bowl. Soon after, in December 2018, he officially completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and information sciences.

In January 2019, Hurts announced that he would be transferring to the University of Oklahoma for his senior season where he eventually led the team to a Big 12 Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. Although he was no longer eligible to play football, Hurts continued his education at the University of Oklahoma and received his Master of Arts in human relations in May of 2023.

In the midst of getting his master’s degree, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Hurts as their 53^rd overall in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In the 2023 season, Hurts led the team to win the NFC Championship against the New York Giants. Now, in the 2024-2025 season, Hurts has led the Eagles to their second Super Bowl win against the Kansas City Chiefs. With this win, Jalen Hurts became the third Black quarterback to earn Super Bowl MVP and is the fourth black starting quarterback in all of football history to win a Super Bowl.

As his career progressed, Hurts prioritized philanthropy and giving back to the Philadelphia community. In 2021, he donated $30,000 to a family residing in Nottingham, PA after being connected to them through a pediatric cancer charity called Alex’s Lemonade Stand. After finding out the family’s eldest son Erick battled cancer at 7 years old and that the family of six was living in a two-bedroom trailer, Hurts wanted to spread holiday cheer to them in any way he could.

Hurts is also a vocal advocate for women in sports and empowerment for women overall. One way he has shown advocation is through “My Cause, My Cleats”, an initiative begun by the NFL. This initiative revolves around NFL players picking a cause important to them and representing their chosen organization on custom-designed cleats. For Hurts, this meant showcasing the importance of women's empowerment by supporting the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Hurts’ commitment extends beyond this initiative as he is the first and only NFL player to have an all-female management team with three of the five women being women of color. In 2022 in an interview with Sports Illustrated, Hurts acknowledged how hard women work in the industry, “They don’t get the same praise as men, they don’t get the praise they deserve,” he said.

Hurts is very proud of his management team and often refers to them as his “secret weapon”. In an interview, when questioned about his hiring decisions, he said he wasn’t specifically seeking out women, the hiring process happened very organically, he was seeking out the best. He credits his team for his many successes, such as landing a five-year NFL contract for $255 million.

In July 2023, he officially opened the Jalen Hurts Foundation. Hurts’ sentiment for the foundation is to give gratitude and generosity back to the city of Philadelphia by providing resources and support programs to help encourage and nurture youths in the city. His goal is to create an impact on the city by inspiring and educating Philadelphia's future adults. “Philadelphia has given me so much, I’m excited to give back to the community in a way that empowers our future leaders,” Hurts said. The foundation has recently donated $200,000 to the School District of Philadelphia for the installation of air conditioning units.

At just 26 years old, Jalen Hurts’ story is still unfolding. His dedication to constantly putting his best foot forward ensures that his impact will expand even further. Hurts is an AAU alumnus we are proud to recognize as a strong example of leadership and excellence and the perfect person to highlight for our Black History Spotlight. Before he was a star to the world, he was a star at AAU events. #ItAllStartsHere.