From viral powerlifting sensation to Super Bowl quarterback: the rise of Jalen Hurts

“It’s a Philly thing.”

That has become the rallying cry of the Philadelphia Eagles. The catchphrase which sums up the city’s attitude towards adversity is emblazoned on sweatshirts, billboards and even Lincoln Financial Field as the team prepares for Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Pressure in Philadelphia is unlike anywhere else. The baying crowd, the intense media and fans unafraid of expressing their unfiltered feelings – the booing and throwing of snowballs at Santa Claus in 1968 has gone down in notorious sport history.

The atmosphere has proven too much for many sporting stars. Sometimes, the city of brotherly love isn’t so friendly.

But for Jalen Hurts, the pressure that comes with being the starting quarterback for the city’s NFL team has been like water off a duck’s back.

Decked out in the green of the Eagles, the 24-year-old has oozed calm and composure as he’s ascended to the top of his field in just his second full season as a starter, becoming the driving force behind the team’s run to the Super Bowl.

But, from his all-women support team to his love of singer Anita Baker and the viral videos of his powerlifting achievements, Hurts is more than just an NFL quarterback.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII. The Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35.

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A pass soars over the head of Kansas City wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster late in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. Eagles cornerback James Bradberry was called for holding on the play, setting up the Chiefs' game-winning field goal.

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Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scores a two-point conversion to tie the Super Bowl at 35-35 in the fourth quarter. Hurts finished the game with three rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown.

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Mahomes throws a pass in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship against the Cincinnati Bengals. He led his team to a 23-20 victory.

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Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick causes San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to fumble during the NFC Championship. It was the Niners' first offensive drive and Purdy injured his elbow on the play. He left the game until the third quarter, when his backup Josh Johnson suffered a concussion. The Eagles won 31-7.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and running back Joe Mixon motion for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter. Both Chase and Mixon had TDs as the Bengals convincingly beat the Bills 27-10 to advance to the AFC Championship game.

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Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson celebrates an interception late in the fourth quarter of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes appearing to suffer a serious ankle injury, Kansas City was able to beat the Jaguars 27-20 to advance to play the Bengals.

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George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers catches a pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter. The 49ers' defense -- which picked off Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott twice -- helped stymie Dallas in a 19-12 victory to move San Francisco to the NFC Championship game.

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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones loses the ball while under pressure by Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat. The Eagles thoroughly dominated the Giants, winning 38-7, to advance to play the 49ers in the NFC Championship game.

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott rushes the ball for a touchdown against Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Akiem Hicks in the first half. Prescott accounted for five touchdowns -- one rushing and four passing -- in the Cowboys' 31-14 victory over the Bucs to set up a clash against the San Francisco 49ers in the next round of the playoffs.

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence celebrates on the field after completing a massive comeback against the Los Angeles Chargers. Lawrence threw four interceptions -- and also four touchdowns -- as he led the Jaguars back from 27-0 down in the first half to beat the Chargers 31-30 thanks to a last-second field goal.

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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley loses the ball as it is knocked away by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson. Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard picked up the fumble and returned it for a 98-yard touchdown in a game-changing moment in Cincinnati's 24-17 victory.

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir grabs a pass against Miami Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou. Despite playing with third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson, the Dolphins almost shocked the Bills but came up just short, turning the ball over on downs on Miami's final possession of the game as they lost 34-31. The Bills will now face the Bengals for the first time since Bills safety Damar Hamlin's on-field collapse brought a game between the two teams to a halt and set off a national outpouring of support.

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The Minnesota Vikings' Eric Kendricks tackles New York Giants wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins. The Giants shocked the No. 3 seed 31-24 largely thanks to an excellent performance from quarterback Daniel Jones. The 25-year-old finished with 301 passing yards and two touchdowns, as well as 78 rushing yards.

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San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates after scoring a two-point conversion against the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers used a big second half to break away from a plucky Seahawks squad and win 41-23. It continues the remarkable run of rookie 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy -- who threw for three touchdowns -- who was drafted with the final pick of last year's NFL draft.

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Buffalo Bills running back Nyheim Hines scores a touchdown on a kickoff return during the first half against the New England Patriots. Hines' touchdown -- his first of two against New England -- came in the Bills' first play since Damar Hamlin collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest.

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Fans hold a sign in support of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during the second half of the game against the New England Patriots. On Sunday, a source told CNN that the Bills safety had shown continued progress with his recovery after his cardiac arrest and on-field collapse and expects to be released from the hospital in the coming days.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney catches a touchdown against Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Luke Masterson during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium. With the emphatic 31-13 victory, the Chiefs clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a bye for the first round of the playoffs.

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The Seattle Seahawks celebrate an interception by Quandre Diggs against the Los Angeles Rams in overtime at Lumen Field. Thanks to their 19-16 win and the Green Bay Packers' defeat later in the day, the Seahawks claimed a wildcard spot in the NFC playoffs.

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Indianapolis Colts fans sit in the stands wearing sad face paper bag masks during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts lost their last seven games of the season -- including Sunday's 32-31 defeat to the Texans -- to finish 4-12-1 for the season, leaving them with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

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Quez Watkins of the Philadelphia Eagles stiff-arms the New York Giants' Nick McCloud during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts returned to the line-up on Sunday and helped the team to a 22-16 win over the Giants, clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

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The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers kneel in prayer for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin before playing on December 8. The Steelers would go on to win 28-14.

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Buffalo Bills players react after teammate Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during the first quarter of the Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin was administered CPR before being transported off the field in an ambulance.

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Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady celebrates after scoring a rushing touchdown against Carolina on Sunday, January 1. The Buccaneers clinched a postseason berth — and their second straight NFC South title — with a 30-24 win.

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San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey rumbles into the end zone against Las Vegas on January 1. McCaffrey and the Niners won 37-34 in overtime.

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Philadelphia quarterback Gardner Minshew, making his second start in place of injured Jalen Hurts, passes against New Orleans on January 1. The Eagles lost 20-10 but still have a chance to clinch home-field advantage in next week's regular season finale.

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Kendrick Bourne of the New England Patriots catches a touchdown over Cam Taylor-Britt of the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium on December 24. The Bengals won 22-18.

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Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman prepares to snap the ball during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at the M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens won 17-9.

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Rachaad White of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stretches across the goal line for a touchdown as Marco Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals defends during the fourth quarter. The Bucs won 19-16.

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Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) is tackled during the second half of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers won 13-10.

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Michael Gallup of the Dallas Cowboys is unable to make a catch in the end zone under pressure from James Bradberry of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys won 40-34.

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Minnesota Vikings place kicker Greg Joseph celebrates his game-winning field goal against the Indianapolis Colts. The Vikings rallied from a 33-point deficit at halftime to defeat the Colts 39-36, completing the largest comeback in NFL history.

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Jamal Agnew of the Jacksonville Jaguars attempts to catch a pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half. The Cowboys lost 40-34 in overtime after Rayshawn Jenkins' 52-yard interception was returned for a touchdown.

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Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals is sacked by Lavonte David of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Burrow threw four touchdowns as the Bengals overcame a 17-point deficit to beat Tom Brady and the Bucs 34-23.

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Mac Jones of the New England Patriots reacts after losing to the Las Vegas Raiders 30-24. A crazy ending to the game between the teams ended with the Patriots suffering a damaging defeat in their hopes to reach the playoffs.

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Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku reaches for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, December 11. It was Deshaun Watson's first touchdown pass for the Browns since returning from an 11-game suspension over sexual misconduct allegations. Despite the touchdown, the Bengals won 23-10.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams catches a pass against Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard on December 11. The Chargers won 23-17.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy celebrates after running for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 11. The rookie also threw for two touchdowns in the 35-7 blowout win.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon dives for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos on December 11. McKinnon scored two receiving touchdowns in the game, and the Chiefs won 34-28.

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Green Bay Packers' Christian Watson celebrates as he crosses the goal line after catching a touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers during the second half of a game against the Chicago Bears on December 4. Watson had two touchdowns in the Packers' 28-19 victory over the Bears.

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Miami Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold hurdles over San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw during the first half of the teams' game. The 49ers, despite losing starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a season-ending injury early on, beat the Dolphins 33-17.

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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Mack Hollins goes upside down on a reception during the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Raiders eventually beat the Chargers 27-20, largely thanks to a monster afternoon for star wide receiver Davante Adams, who finished with 177 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

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Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Evans runs in for a touchdown past Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis in the second half. Behind two touchdown passes from Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Cincinnati beat the Chiefs 27-24.

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New York Jets QB Mike White celebrates after beating the Chicago Bears 31-10 at MetLife Stadium on November 27. White had a monster afternoon, throwing for 315 yards and three touchdowns.

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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. makes the game-winning touchdown catch with 18 seconds left against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters during the second half of their game in Week 12.

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Two sides of the coin... Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota and Washington Commanders defensive end Montez Sweat react to Mariota's second half interception on November 27. Washington won the game 19-13.

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New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill is tackled by San Francisco 49ers defensive end Samson Ebukam, linebacker Fred Warner and defensive tackle Kevin Givens in the second half on November 27. The 49ers would go on to shut out the Saints 13-0 to move to 7-4 on the year.

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Dallas' Peyton Hendershot, right, celebrates a touchdown with teammates inside a big Salvation Army kettle during the Cowboys' Thanksgiving Day win over the New York Giants on Thursday, November 24.

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Buffalo wide receiver Stefon Diggs digs into a turkey leg after the Bills defeated Detroit on Thanksgiving Day.

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Ahead of their game against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 20, Denver Broncos staff members and fans observe a moment of silence for victims of an attack at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub late Saturday. A gunman entered the Club Q nightclub and opened fire, killing at least 5 people and injuring 19 others, police said.

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Atlanta Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson sets a personal record by running back a kick-return 103 yards for a touchdown in front of his home crowd. Patterson now has nine kickoff return touchdowns, the most in NFL history. The Falcons would go on to beat the Chicago Bears 27-24.

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott celebrates a touchdown with running back Tony Pollard in the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium. The Cowboys (7-3) demolished the previously Vikings (8-2) 40-3 on the road in an astonishing performance.

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New England Patriots fans celebrate as cornerback Marcus Jones scores an 84-yard punt return in the final 30 seconds of the game to give the Pats a 10-3 win over division rivals, the New York Jets.

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Justin Jefferson catches arguably the pass of the year in front of the Bills' Cam Lewis during the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo. Jefferson had a monster afternoon — finishing with 10 catches, 193 receiving yards and a touchdown — as the Vikings stunned the Bills 33-30 in overtime to go to 8-1 on the year.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady keeps on making history. Brady and the Bucs beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-16 in the NFL's first regular season game in Germany. With the victory, the seven-time Super Bowl champion became the first QB to win an NFL game in three different countries outside of the US. He had previously won in the UK and in Mexico.

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Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields evades Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph as he runs for a 67-yard touchdown. Fields ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough as the Bears lost 31-30 to the Lions.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys. The rookie caught three touchdowns as the Packers ended a five-game losing streak to beat the Cowboys 31-28 in overtime.

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Miami Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold scores a touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami beat the Browns 39-17, extending its winning run to four games, behind three touchdown passes from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen scores a first quarter touchdown against the New York Jets, but the Bills' fast start wasn't enough though, as the Jets fought back and were able to record a huge victory over their high-flying division rivals, 20-17.

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Joe Mixon scores a touchdown for the Cincinnati Bengals during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers. Mixon scored five TDs in the 42-21 win over the Panthers, breaking the Bengals' record for the most touchdowns in a single game.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Brandon Powell is acrobatically tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Genard Avery during the first half of their game at Raymond James Stadium. Bucs quarterback Tom Brady threw a one-yard touchdown to tight end Cade Otton with 13 seconds left to complete a 16-13 comeback victory over the reigning Super Bowl champions.

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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams catches a pass for a touchdown while being tightly defended by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell. Despite another excellent afternoon for Adams — finishing with 146 receiving yards and two touchdowns — the Raiders were beaten 27-20 by the Jags.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Samori Toure is tackled by Detroit Lions safety Will Harris. The Packers lost their fourth straight game, losing to the Lions 15-9, as Aaron Rodgers threw three interceptions on the day.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown catches a 29-yard touchdown pass against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Brown caught three touchdown passes as the Eagles remained undefeated with a 35-13 victory over the Steelers to move to 7-0 for the season.

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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey throws a touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk against the Los Angeles Rams. McCaffrey equaled a rare record in the 49ers 31-14 victory, becoming the first NFL player since Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005 to have a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in a game.

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DeAndre Hopkins make an amazing one-handed catch to reel in a touchdown for the Arizona Cardinals against the Minnesota Vikings. Hopkins' excellent display, finishing with the touchdown and 159 receiving yards, wasn't enough though as the Cardinals lost 34-26 to the Vikings.

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Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons celebrates his fumble recovery and touchdown run during the second half against the Chicago Bears. The Cowboys dominated the Bears, winning 49-29, with running back Tony Pollard scoring three rushing touchdowns.

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New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara stretches across the goal line for a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Saints shut out the Raiders, intercepting quarterback Derek Carr once, on the way to a 24-0 win.

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Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo is congratulated by teammates after kicking the game-winning field goal in overtime against the Carolina Panthers. Regular time ended in dramatic fashion after Panthers quarterback PJ Walker completed a huge Hail Mary touchdown pass to tie the scores but kicker Eddy Pineiro missed two key kicks which would have given Carolina the victory. In the end, Koo's overtime field goal gave the Falcons the 37-34 victory.

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New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones slides and accidentally kicks Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker in the groin. Later on in the drive, Brisker got his revenge though with an impressive one-handed interception — one of three picks on the evening for "Da Bears" in a 33-14 win for Chicago.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase catches one of his two touchdowns on the afternoon over Atlanta Falcons cornerback Cornell Armstrong and safety Jaylinn Hawkins. The Bengals beat the Falcons 35-17 behind a monster performance from quarterback Joe Burrow, who threw 34-for-42 for 481 yards and three touchdowns.

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It was tough times for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tom Brady on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Brady — sacked here by Panthers defensive end Brian Burns — and the Bucs failed to score a touchdown in a 21-3 loss to Carolina to send Tampa Bay to 3-4 on the year. Despite the loss, the Bucs are still first place in the lowly NFC South.

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Seattle Seahawks receiver Marquise Goodwin makes an amazing catch for a touchdown in the first half of a 37-23 win against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Goodwin made four catches for 67 yards and two TDs on the day.

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All eyes might have been focused on quarterback Dak Prescott's return but Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott — here hurdling Detroit Lions safety DeShon Elliott — stole the show with two rushing TDs to help America's Team to a 24-6 win over Detroit.

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Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson leaps into the end zone as he returns an interception for a touchdown during a Thursday Night Football football game against the New Orleans Saints. The Arizona defense scored touchdowns on two pick-sixes late in the first half.

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen hurdles Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid as he scrambles for a first down. Allen's fourth quarter touchdown throw to Dawson Knox capped off a 24-20 victory against the Chiefs.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Parris Campbell stretches to get the ball over the pylon for a touchdown while defended by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Darious Williams. The Colts beat their division rivals 34-27 thanks to a last-gasp touchdown from quarterback Matt Ryan to rookie Alec Pierce.

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New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley dives into the endzone to score a touchdown during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens. The Giants continued their excellent start to the season with a 24-20 win over the Ravens, improving their record to 5-1.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney makes catch under pressure from Washington Commanders cornerback Benjamin St-Juste just short of the goal line in the final minute of the second half. Mooney came within inches of securing a come-from-behind victory for the Bears, but eventually had to settle for a 12-7 loss after he was adjudged to have landed just short of a touchdown.

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Gabe Davis of the Buffalo Bills makes a one-handed catch for a touchdown against Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium. The Bills dominated the Steelers 38-3 with Davis scoring two touchdowns on the day.

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San Francisco 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley scores a touchdown after having intercepted Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield. The 49ers emphatically beat the Panthers 37-15.

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New York Jets running back Breece Hall carries the ball down to the one-yard line against the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter. Hall rushed for a touchdown in the Jets' 40-17 demolishing of the Dolphins. His TD was one of the Jets' four rushing touchdowns as they dominated Miami on the ground.

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush celebrates with Dak Prescott after the team's 22-10 win against the Los Angeles Rams. Rush stepped in for starting quarterback Prescott in Week 2 after Prescott suffered a hand injury. Since then, the Cowboys have won four straight games.

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Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson dives for a two-point conversion during the Vikings' 29-22 victory over the Chicago Bears.

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New Orleans Saints utility player Taysom Hill breaks the tackle of Seattle Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs and runs to the endzone for a 60-yard rushing touchdown during the Saints' 39-32 victory. Hill ran for three touchdowns, as well as throwing for another, as the Saints ended a three-game losing streak.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is tripped up by Denver Broncos cornerback K'Waun Williams. It was a rare glimpse of offense in a lackluster 12-9 win for the Colts.

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A protester meets the full force of Los Angeles Rams defensive end Takkarist McKinley, left, and linebacker Bobby Wagner during the Monday night game against the San Francisco 49ers on October 3. "He looked like he wasn't supposed to be on the field," Wagner told reporters after the game. "I saw security was having a little problem -- so I helped him out." The 49ers went on to dominate the Rams behind a stout defense that had seven sacks and an interception, winning 24-9 to move to 2-2 on the season.

Abbie Parr/AP

The Las Vegas Raiders earned their first win of the 2022 season when they beat the Denver Broncos 32-23 in front of their home crowd. The Raiders relied on a heavy run game, led by Josh Jacobs' 144 yards and two TDs on 28 carries.

Jeff Dean/AP

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was taken off the field on a stretcher during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, after suffering apparent head and neck injuries. The incident had a lot of fall out with the NFL beginning a review on allowing Tagovailoa to play, the Dolphins being criticized widely and the National Football League Players Association reportedly terminating the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant who was involved in the evaluation of Tagovailoa for a concussion during their game against the Buffalo Bills.

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Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray runs in a touchdown in the fourth against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 2 in Charlotte. Murray's TD was part of a fourth quarter flurry which saw the Cards pull away from the Panthers to go .500 on the year so far.

Matt Slocum/AP

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is brought down by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Kyzir White in the second half of the Eagles' 29-21 win in Philly. The Eagles are now 4-0 after Week 4.

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Fireworks and pyrotechnics go off ahead of the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints clash in London — the NFL's 100th international game. The Vikings won the game when the Saints' "double doink" kick — when the ball hits two parts of the uprights on a scoring attempt — fell short and let Minnesota return to the US with the 28-25 win.

Jasen Vinlove/USA Today

The most bizarre incident of Week 3 occurred with the Miami Dolphins backed up in their own endzone. On their own one-yard line, needing to punt the ball away with restricted space available, punter Thomas Morstead kicked the ball off teammate Trent Sherfield's backside and out of bounds for a safety. Dubbed "butt punt" by many on social media, the flub ultimately didn't cost Miami as it won 21-19 over the Buffalo Bills.

David Richard/AP

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens makes a sensational, one-handed catch over Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. on September 22. Unfortunately for Pickens, the Steelers lost 29-17 after the Browns bounced back from an embarrassing Week 2 loss to the New York Jets.

Chris O'Meara/AP

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Breshad Perriman fumbles after catching a pass during the first half against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3. The fumble was one of two lost by the Bucs on the day, helping the Packers win a tight affair, 14-12, in Tampa Bay.

Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa sits on the turf in the second quarter of Miami's game against the Buffalo Bills. Tagovailoa was tackled by Matt Milano and his head hit the ground, causing the Miami man to be taken into the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion. He eventually came back to lead the Dolphins to victory, but the NFLPA is initiating a review of the injury and medical evaluation.

Jerry Holt/AP

Who knew Lions could fly? Detroit wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown soars over Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson to pick up a first down at the two-yard line in the first quarter of their Week 3 clash. The Vikings won the game, 28-24, led by Kirk Cousins' 260 yards passing and two TD tosses, to go to 2-1 on the year.

Jonathan Bachman/AP

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore get into an altercation during the second half of the Bucs' chippy 20-10 win over the Saints in Week 2. The win snapped Brady's personal seven-game losing streak against the Saints.

Julio Cortez/AP

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devin Duvernay gave the home crowd something to cheer for when he returned the opening kickoff 103 yards to score a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins on September 18. Despite the feat, the Ravens went on to lose 42-38 after being outscored by 25 in the fourth quarter.

Tony Avelar/AP

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo celebrates with his teammates during the second half of a 27-7 win against the Seattle Seahawks on September 18. Garoppolo came on as a substitute after starter Trey Lance went down for the year with a fractured ankle and threw for 154 yards and one touchdown -- and rushed for another -- on 13/21 passing.

Scott Galvin/USA Today Sports

The Cleveland Browns run the ball across midfield against the New York Jets during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns ended up losing 31-30 after being up by 13 points with 1:55 remaining in the game. Jets QB Joe Flacco threw for 307 yards and four TDs — including two in the final two minutes of the game — to carry the Jets. Sunday's game saw the return of "Brownie the Elf" to the Browns' home field. The logo was initially used by the Browns in their inaugural season in 1946 but fell out of favor in the 60s, returning when the franchise was brought back to Cleveland in 1999.

David Becker/AP

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., left, picks up a fumble and returns it for the winning touchdown during overtime of a dramatic 29-23 win against the Las Vegas Raiders on September 18.

Joshua A. Bickel/AP

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow throws during the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 on September 11 in Cincinnati. Burrow would go on to have five turnovers on the day — four interceptions and a lost fumble — in a 23-20 loss.

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Seattle Seahawks fans make noise as Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos prepares to take a snap during a failed game-winning drive on September 12. It was Wilson's first game back in Seattle since leaving for Denver after 10 years with the Seahawks. Seattle won 17-16.

Rusty Jones/AP

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb makes a run in the red zone against the Carolina Panthers on September 11 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Chubb had 141 yards on 22 carries in a tight 26-24 win for the Browns.

Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports/Reuters

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen stiff-arms Los Angeles Rams safety Nick Scott in the third quarter of a massive 31-10 win against the defending Super Bowl champions at SoFi Stadium. The statement victory on NFL Opening Day shows the Bills are serious contenders for the title in 2022.

Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas makes a reception against Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell in the second half of their game in Atlanta on September 11. Thomas had two touchdown catches on the day as the Saints outscored the Falcons by 14 in the fourth to win 27-26.

Surroundings

Whatever he’s turned his hand to, he’s succeeded at. Whether it be football, lifting weights or athletics, Hurts achieves the goals he sets for himself.

However, that can’t be said for his rendition of the Eagles’ fight song “Fly, Eagles Fly” – his singing on the riser after winning the NFC Championship indicated he needs to spend more time with a singing instructor than in the gym.

Singing aside, Hurts’ achievements are a tribute to not only his talents but also to the support team he has assembled.

His father, Averion, was the head coach at Channelview High School during Hurts’ time there and helped develop his son’s game as he took his formative steps.

Averion told ESPN that having worked with his son and seen how he’s handled pressure in the biggest moments of his career, he believed his biggest attribute wasn’t his running ability or his big arm, but his “mental capacity.”

The quarterback has constructed an all-women support network around him, spearheaded by Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn of Klutch Sports Group.

Hurts is a keen advocate for empowering the women around him, something he says goes back to seeing his mother, Pamela, raise a family while studying for a master’s degree.

“I admire anyone who puts their head down and works for what they want. And I know women who do that daily, but they don’t get the same praise as men – they don’t get the praise that they deserve,” Hurts told Sports Illustrated.

“I’ve seen that now with tons of different women in my life that are hustlers. Athletes, coaches, women in the business world of sports. I see it all the time. And they deserve their flowers too. So if me saying something about it brings more attention to it, then I’m all for that.”

As part of the NFL’s “My Cause, My Cleats” initiative earlier this season, Hurts had the motto “Women Empowerment” emblazoned on his shoes.

Lynn told Sports Illustrated last year that she first got in contact with Hurts via a direct message on Instagram after his final college game, in what she describes as a “total Hail Mary.”

She will become the first Black woman agent to represent an NFL quarterback in the Super Bowl and Hurts says he was drawn to working with Lynn because of her determination.

“I know the agent world in the NFL, and all sports, is very male-dominated,” he told Sports Illustrated. “But Nicole was really on top of her stuff. She was prepared. She knew what she was talking about. She was hungry. And she was determined.

“And I feel that determination like that never rests. Once you come across such a determined individual, that just hits me a little different.”

Hurts added: “I’ve put a lot of trust and faith in a female-driven team. I have a team of straight hustlers … They get things done. And that’s how I am on the field and off the field. We’re all trying to accomplish something.”

Upwards

Football might not have been many people’s first exposure to Hurts.

Many people might have first heard of him from his powerlifting exploits. Having initially began lifting when he was a teenager, Hurts attended powerlifting meets during his high school days.

Videos of Hurts squatting over 500 pounds circulated on social media, but he really became an internet sensation when he lifted 600 pounds during his time at the University of Oklahoma.

Steadily though, his on-field performances at college began to earn him wider recognition, especially when he started for the Alabama Crimson Tide as a true freshman, the first to do so for 32 years.

Despite the season ending in heartbreak when Alabama lost in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship against the Clemson Tigers, Hurts had established himself as a star, dual-threat quarterback in the making.

But just when everything seemed to be falling into place, Hurts faced adversity.

Having led Alabama once again to the National Championship game a year later, Alabama fell behind 13-0 at halftime to Georgia.

Needing a spark, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban benched Hurts in favor of true freshman Tua Tagovailoa – Tagovailoa led a dramatic comeback which resulted in a 26-23 overtime victory.

The Houston native was forced to play second fiddle behind Tagovailoa in his junior season, coming in for the future Miami Dolphins quarterback on select plays due to his running ability and later in the season when Tagovailoa suffered an injury.

In his final year of college eligibility, Hurts transferred to Oklahoma where he reinstated himself as an option for NFL teams in the upcoming draft after a successful season.

Hurts finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, behind Joe Burrow, after posting 3,851 passing yards, 32 passing touchdowns, and just eight interceptions, as well as 1,298 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns.

Despite all the good performances he’d put on tape, there were doubts about his overall potential heading into the NFL. According to the official NFL draft profile on Hurts, he would “struggle to beat NFL defenses from the pocket” and his future in the league would be a “solid backup with upward mobility.”

Having declared for the draft, Hurts saw his name slip down the draftboard before eventually being picked by the Eagles with the 53rd overall pick in the second round. The pick was a surprise to many, with starter Carson Wentz just two years removed from an MVP-level season.

After leading the Eagles to this year’s Super Bowl, Hurts remembers dealing with some of the backlash he received for being drafted to Philadelphia.

“My first year here [people] probably didn’t even want [me drafted] here. It was probably one of those things. But it always handles itself,” he told ESPN following the 31-7 win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship game.

“It was a big surprise to many. My favorite [Bible] verse, I went through a lot of stuff in college and it kind of stuck with me, John 13:7: ‘You may not know now but later you’ll understand.’ Hopefully, people understand.”

Although he began the 2020 season as the third-choice quarterback, he eventually earned himself the backup job behind Wentz, featuring in games in specific moments where his dynamic running ability tended to be utilized.

By December, Hurts had been named the starter over Wentz in a struggling Eagles team with a soon-to-be-fired head coach.

With Nick Sirianni instilled as the head coach and Wentz traded away, the starting job was Hurts come 2021. And despite some bumps in the road, he and the rest of the offense showed glimpses of a bright future ahead, finishing with a 9-8 record and one of the most threatening running offenses in the league.

While there were hints last year, not even the most hopeful of Philadelphia fans could have predicted the leap Hurts has made this year.

In the 15 games that he started in the regular season, the Eagles finished 14-1, with Hurts setting career highs in passing years, passing touchdowns, completion percentage, quarterback rating and rushing touchdowns.

The improvement he’s shown with his throwing ability, paired with his running ability, has made the Eagles offense unstoppable, something they displayed emphatically in their victory over the 49ers in the NFC Championship.

History

In making the Super Bowl, Hurts will face the Kansas City Chiefs and their star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. The match-up is particularly significant as it will be the first Super Bowl in which a Black quarterback will start for both teams.

Hurts is just the eighth Black quarterback to start in the Super Bowl and Philadelphia’s second Black quarterback to start in a Super Bowl, joining Donovan McNabb who started Super Bowl XXXIX. Should the Eagles win at State Farm Stadium, Hurts will become the fourth Black quarterback to win an NFL championship after Doug Williams with the then-Washington Redskins in 1988, Russell Wilson with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014 and Mahomes in 2020.

“The first time for two [Black quarterbacks] to go head-to-head, that’s uplifting the next generation of quarterbacks,” Hurts said when asked about the significance of the moment.

“That four-year-old, five-year-old kid back in Houston, back in Philly, back in Texas, Louisiana, wherever across the world, it shows that regardless of what someone may say or have an opinion about you, you can do it.

“I value the platform I have, I’m sure like Pat does, as well. We just want to inspire the next people.”

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The Kansas City Chiefs received this ring for winning Super Bowl LVII in 2023. Rings have been made for every NFL champion since the first Super Bowl in 1967.

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Super Bowl I: Green Bay Packers

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Super Bowl II: Green Bay Packers

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Super Bowl III: New York Jets

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Super Bowl IV: Kansas City Chiefs

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Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts

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Super Bowl VI: Dallas Cowboys

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Super Bowl VII: Miami Dolphins

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Super Bowl VIII: Miami Dolphins

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Super Bowl IX: Pittsburgh Steelers

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Super Bowl X: Pittsburgh Steelers

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Super Bowl XI: Oakland Raiders

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Super Bowl XII: Dallas Cowboys

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Super Bowl XIII: Pittsburgh Steelers

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Super Bowl XIV: Pittsburgh Steelers

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Super Bowl XV: Oakland Raiders

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Super Bowl XVI: San Francisco 49ers

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Super Bowl XVII: Washington Redskins

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Super Bowl XVIII: Los Angeles Raiders

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Super Bowl XIX: San Francisco 49ers

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Super Bowl XX: Chicago Bears

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Super Bowl XXI: New York Giants

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Super Bowl XXII: Washington Redskins

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Super Bowl XXIII: San Francisco 49ers

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Super Bowl XXIV: San Francisco 49ers

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Super Bowl XXV: New York Giants

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Super Bowl XXVI: Washington Redskins

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Super Bowl XXVII: Dallas Cowboys

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Super Bowl XXVIII: Dallas Cowboys

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Super Bowl XXIX: San Francisco 49ers

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Super Bowl XXX: Dallas Cowboys

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Super Bowl XXXI: Green Bay Packers

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Super Bowl XXXII: Denver Broncos

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Super Bowl XXXIII: Denver Broncos

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Super Bowl XXXIV: St. Louis Rams

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Super Bowl XXXV: Baltimore Ravens

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Super Bowl XXXVI: New England Patriots

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Super Bowl XXXVII: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Super Bowl XXXVIII: New England Patriots

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Super Bowl XXXIX: New England Patriots

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Super Bowl XL: Pittsburgh Steelers

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Super Bowl XLI: Indianapolis Colts

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Super Bowl XLII: New York Giants

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Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers

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Super Bowl XLIV: New Orleans Saints

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Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers

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Super Bowl XLVI: New York Giants

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Super Bowl XLVII: Baltimore Ravens

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Super Bowl XLVIII: Seattle Seahawks

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Super Bowl XLIX: New England Patriots

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Super Bowl 50: Denver Broncos

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Super Bowl LI: New England Patriots

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Super Bowl LII: Philadelphia Eagles

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Super Bowl LIII: New England Patriots

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Super Bowl LIV: Kansas City Chiefs

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Super Bowl LV: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Super Bowl LVI: Los Angeles Rams

Individually, Hurts has been recognized for his stellar season, being named as one of the five finalists for the NFL’s most prestigious individual accolade, the Most Valuable Player award.

Hurts has found it difficult to put into words the road he’s been on.

“I don’t really know how to feel, to be honest. You work really hard to put yourself in this position and I’m forever grateful,” he said.

“Only God knows the things that each individual on this team has been able to overcome for us to come together as a team and do something special as a group. That’s what means the most. I always want to go out there and give my best regardless of what’s going on because I don’t want to let down the guy next to me. That makes us all go harder.

“I know I’ve been through a lot personally, but I don’t want to steer away from the direction of how good this team has been at playing together, being together and challenging one another.

“When we experience some painful times and some tough times, we always found a way to overcome. You want to be going into a situation like this, and we have a chance to go out there and win it all, so we want to prepare to go do that.”

With one game to go between him and history, Hurts said his Eagles team hasn’t just come to make up the numbers.

“I didn’t put in all that work for no reason,” he said. “I put all this work in, we put all this work in, to have opportunities like this. It’ll be a fun one.

“We just want to go out there and do what we’ve done this whole entire time, to try and play clean football and play together. We’ve come here to finish the job.”

A remarkable rise for a second-round draft pick who was doubted even at the beginning of this season. Handling pressure isn’t for everybody, but, come rain or shine, as Hurts says: “It’s a Philly thing.”