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Eagles’ quarterback Jalen Hurts has earned a spot on TIME Magazine’s list of Top 100 Rising Stars and the recognition highlights his outstanding talent and potential in the NFL.
As part of this honor, Hall of Fame quarterback and two-time Super Bowl Champion, Peyton Manning, contributed his thoughts on Hurts for TIME Magazine.
Manning spoke glowingly about his interactions with the young quarterback over the years.
“I first met Jalen Hurts—who led the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl earlier this year—when he was in college and a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy, a summer football camp for high school players. I’ve admired him ever since,” Manning remarked.
Manning went on to commend Hurts for his unwavering dedication to improvement, saying, “I strongly respect his willingness to learn. He’s always thinking about getting better. For example, he will sometimes text me questions about plays that his team can run in the red zone. Though I sometimes have to remind him I haven’t played in seven years (I have to dig into some old archives to remember plays), I’ve so enjoyed these conversations.”
Hurts’ commitment to his team and the game itself did not go unnoticed by Manning. He praised the young quarterback as a natural leader who deeply cares about his role and the organization he represents.
Manning further added, “Jalen is a natural leader who cares about his job and the organization that he plays for.” The Eagles signed Jalen to a record-breaking contract extension this offseason, and he feels that accountability and responsibility to make them glad they made that investment.”
“He’s not celebrating. He doesn’t see it as a reward. He sees it for what it is: the Eagles are paying him for what they expect him to do now. He’s a model of how to approach a job. This is where the hard work begins.”
With accolades pouring in from a legend like Peyton Manning, Jalen Hurts continues to cement his status as one of the NFL’s brightest rising stars, determined to lead the Philadelphia Eagles to new heights.