Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is achieving big things on and off the field. He’s had quite a run these last few months. Per the Philadelphia Inquirer, in January, Hurts was a finalist for the NFL’s MVP award and led his team to Super Bowl LVII in February.
Although that might’ve been a loss for him, Hurts is taking a whole lot of Ws in real life. As if Hurts’ $255 million contract wasn’t enough, this past Friday, the 24-year-old got to walk across the stage to receive his master’s degree in human relations from the University of Oklahoma.
Jalen Hurts Earns Master’s Degree
In 2018, Hurts earned his bachelor’s degree in public relations and information sciences from Alabama. He then transferred to Oklahoma in 2019 and played his final year as a college football player for the Sooners. After that, Hurts was selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft at No. 53 overall.
While keeping his head in the game, it’s quite obvious he was also ready to keep his head in those books.
Education tends to run in the Hurts family. In fact, his mom, Pamela, is a special education teacher for a school in Texas. Meanwhile, his father, Averion, coaches high school football at Channelview High School — Hurts’ old stomping grounds.
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Though Hurts does look up to both his parents, Pamela seems to be a big influence on him. Last month, he told Essence that her commitment to bettering herself has truly inspired him.
He said his mom always taught him to “get it out the mud, because she had to get it out the mud herself.”
Hurt also explained to Essence that around his freshman year in college, his mom saw her colleagues get laid off and decided to find a way to reinvent herself.
“She went back to school, and she got her master’s to become a counselor,” he reflected. “That’s a living testimony for me.”
Hurts Now Focused on Getting Back to the Super Bowl
As the 2023-24 NFL season approaches, Hurts will look to expand on his successes and make another run to the Super Bowl.
After signing his big-boy contract, Hurts was asked during a press conference how much it meant to him that he was the highest-paid player in the NFL at the time. While expressing gratitude that he was thankful for his new money, he also remained as humble as one can be during a time like that.
As mentioned on NBCSports.com, “Money is nice, championships are better,” Hurts said.
Last season, he led the Eagles to a 14-3 record and finished second to Patrick Mahomes in MVP voting.
The Eagles will open their season on the road against the New England Patriots. Since he made it very clear where his head is at — on championships — one can only imagine how often Hurts can lead his squad back to the promised land that is the Super Bowl.
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The NFC East has proven to be a tough division, especially with the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Commanders also appearing to turn their franchises around. Hurts has the next five years to show his face in another Super Bowl and get a ring, so… is he up for the challenge?