The annals of Super Bowl history have recently welcomed a new, prodigious talent into its most exclusive club: Jalen Hurts. The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback has achieved a remarkable feat, aligning his name with legendary figures such as Joe Montana, Joe Namath, and the contemporary titan Patrick Mahomes, by securing both an All-Pro title and a Super Bowl MVP award before the age of 27.
During Super Bowl LIX, Hurts showcased an exceptional performance that truly solidified his place in the record books. He completed an astounding 73% of his passes, a figure unsurpassed by any quarterback in the history of the championship game. This stellar accuracy contributed to an impressive 109.4 passer rating, which stands as the fourth-highest in Super Bowl history, culminating in his well-deserved Super Bowl MVP trophy.
This dual accomplishment—an All-Pro nod and a Super Bowl MVP—is a rare distinction, especially for a player so early in his career. It underscores Hurts’ rapid ascent in the National Football League, marking him as a signal-caller with a unique blend of talent and impact, capable of leading his team to the sport’s highest honor.
His contemporary peer, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, entered this same elite fraternity at a similarly young age. Mahomes, by 24, had already combined an All-Pro title from his inaugural season as a starter with a Super Bowl victory in 2019, demonstrating a comparable trajectory of early career dominance and championship success.
Looking back at the NFL’s storied past, Joe Montana, the iconic San Francisco 49ers quarterback, achieved this exclusive double in 1981, securing his first Super Bowl triumph at the age of 25. Montana’s ability to consistently deliver under pressure and his multiple Super Bowl rings cemented his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.
Another legendary figure to precede Hurts in this achievement is Joe Namath, whose charismatic presence and groundbreaking Super Bowl III victory remain indelible in NFL lore. Namath earned an All-Pro second-team nomination in 1967, just one year before his historic upset win against the Baltimore Colts, also at the age of 25, showcasing his profound influence on the game’s evolution.
While Jalen Hurts has undeniably joined an extraordinarily exclusive group, the journey to compare himself fully with these established giants is still extensive. His current resume, while impressive with a pair of Pro Bowl nominations and the 2022 Bert Bell award, pales in comparison to the extensive accolades of Mahomes, who boasts multiple Pro Bowls, All-Pro first-team titles, regular season MVPs, and Super Bowl rings, or the Hall of Fame careers of Namath and Montana.
Nevertheless, Hurts possesses considerable time and is supported by what is widely regarded as one of professional football’s most efficiently run organizations, the Philadelphia Eagles. If the Eagles’ organizational strength and his continued development persist throughout his career, the prospect of Jalen Hurts eventually earning a gold jacket and joining his distinguished clubmates in Canton, Ohio, appears increasingly plausible.
