As the NFL’s opening weekend comes to an end, some teams and players made more noise than others. And while it’s way too early to determine a Super Bowl winner or league MVP, there remains one constant in discussions about elite NFL quarterbacks.
Jalen Hurts continues to be excluded.
There always seems to be a new definition of what an elite NFL QB is whenever Hurts’ name comes up, and it’s become frustrating to see how many ridiculously keep him in elite QB exile.
Hurts is the reigning Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP. He’s the only QB to do what superstars like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Josh Burrow have not- outplay and beat Patrick Mahomes in the biggest game of the year.
Not only did Hurts beat Mahomes to win Super Bowl LIX this past February, but he also outplayed him in Super Bowl LVII two years prior and if not for a costly fumble, the Eagles would have won two Super Bowls in three years, and Hurts would be a 2x Super Bowl Champion and 2x Super Bowl MVP.
Despite this, “NFL experts” refuse to grant him admission to Club Mahomes.
The excuses range from the Eagles had a loaded team and Saquon carried them all season to “Tush Push” TDs are weak and he lacks the size and big passing numbers of the other aforementioned quarterbacks.
But in today’s NFL, a quarterback, especially an elite quarterback, can’t just be measured by passing yardage. His rushing totals and ability to make big plays in big games must be recognized as well.
Yet the “experts” always fail to recall Hurts is the only one that outplayed and beat Mahomes in both categories while gushing over the performances of Jackson, Allen and Burrow.
This is not to say that Hurts is better than the aforementioned trio, but since quarterback comparisons are so frequently made during head-to-head matchups, Hurts’ two Super Bowl matchups against Mahomes and the Chiefs must be recognized and respected.
In Super Bowl LVII in 2023, Hurts threw for 304 yards and 1 TD while rushing for 70 yards and 3 TDs. Mahomes, in comparison, had 182 yards passing with 3 TDs while rushing for 44 yards.
Last season, Hurts ranked 20th in passing yards (2,903), 21st in passing TDs (18) and 5th in passer rating (103.7). But the most important stats were that the Eagles finished 12-3 and won the Super Bowl with Hurts under center.
In that game, Hurts threw for 221 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT while rushing for 72 yards and 1 TD. Mahomes had 257 yards with 3 TDs and 2 INTs and rushed for 25 yards.
So why isn’t Hurts considered elite?
It’s clear that it’s acceptable for “experts” to compare QBs in head to head matchups except when it comes to Hurts.
This is the same Jalen Hurts that came through when called upon at Alabama despite being benched in favor of Tua Tagovailoa.
The same Hurts who, after transferring to Oklahoma for his senior year, threw for 3,851 yards with 32 TDs and 8 INTs. He also rushed for 1,298 yards and 20 TDs. He was named 1st team All-Big 12, led the nation in passing yards/attempt, and was second in the nation in both passing efficiency (191.2) and total TDs (53).
That was more passing yards, rushing yards and total TDs than Justin Herbert, Jordan Love and Jacob Eason, players he was ranked behind in the 2020 NFL Draft. That would have earned Hurts the Heisman as well had it not been for Joe Burrow’s history-making season at LSU.
This is the same Hurts who had to fight through the doubts of coaches and “experts” like Todd McShay in his first two seasons in Philly.
“Because I personally, if I was the general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles, I would not feel comfortable going into the season saying, ‘Hurts is the guy. He’s going to take us to the promised land. We believe in him 100%. We don’t even need to bring in another guy,'” said McShay in 2021 when Carson Wentz was moved and Hurts was named the starter.
A year later, Hurts was an MVP-leading candidate until he hurt his shoulder and missed two games, giving Mahomes the clear cut path to the award.
That year, in 2022, the Eagles went 14-1 with Hurts as the starting QB. He threw for 3,472 yards with 22 TDs and 5 INTs, while rushing for 747 yards rushing and 13 TDs. He also had a completion percentage of 67.1% and a 104.6 QBR while leading Philly to the Super Bowl.
And even before he went out with the injury, many critics refused to believe that Hurts was worthy of being named MVP.
So here we are in 2025 and many experts are still voting in favor of keeping Jalen Hurts in elite QB exile.
Is Hurts a better passer than Burrow, Allen or Jackson? Many would say no.
But when it comes to performing when it really counts, Jalen Hurts hasn’t let his team or fans down.
So stop revising the definition of elite QBs whenever Jalen Hurts’ name is brought up and just remember who elite QB play is measured by.
For when you do, you’ll realize there’s only name who has passed the head to head comparison and battle with Patrick Mahomes.
