Jalen Hurts Michael DeMocker/Getty Images
Two years ago, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes made history as the first two Black quarterbacks to go head-to-head in a Super Bowl. The duo will meet again in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, February 9 — but this year, the Hurts-Mahomes narrative isn’t nearly as prominent
“It’s not mentioned as much now,” Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Hurts, 26, told reporters on Thursday, February 6. “It’s history again. It’s funny to see that it’s the two of us again doing it. But nonetheless, just embracing the opportunity and embracing that stage and knowing that torch you carry.”
While the historic rematch might not be getting as much focus nationally, Hurts said he’s still feeling the love from those within the sport.
“I literally just got a text from someone who is a quarterback, an aspiring quarterback in the professionals, talking about just leading the way and paving the way for the young Black kings coming up,” the 5th-year quarterback said. “That means a lot because everybody’s always watching.”
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for TIME Jalen Hurts has won the hearts of Philadelphia Eagles fans with his impressive work on the football field — but he found his true love in Alabama. The Eagles quarterback turned heads while playing for the University of Alabama from 2016 to 2018. However, off the field, he only had […]
Hurts added, “Thinking about leadership, thinking about those abilities and being able to lead a group of men, that’s something that many people didn’t think that a person like myself was capable of.”
While Hurts admitted “there are still certain barriers that you try and overcome,” he expressed gratitude for the opportunity that lies ahead.
“It’s a blessing,” Hurts added. “It’s an opportunity that I don’t take for granted. You do it for moments like this.”
During the 2024-’25 season, a record 15 Black quarterbacks started for teams in Week 1, one year after a record 14 started in 2023-’24.
Mahomes was also asked about the magnitude of the moment on Thursday, as he attempts to navigate the Chiefs to an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title.
“It still has significance because you want to continue to push the bar for Black quarterbacks forward,” Mahomes, 29, told reporters. “You want to showcase what we can do on the football field throwing, running, whatever it takes to win football games.”
Mahomes added, “More than anything, it showcases that if you give guys chances, if that’s coaching or quarterback or whatever it is in any profession, they’re going to go out there and execute at a very high level.”
The Chiefs and Eagles battle in Super Bowl LIX from the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9 at 6:30 pm ET on Fox.
Leave a Reply