Source: Mitchell Leff / Getty
Did you know the Philadelphia Eagles have had more black quarterbacks than any team in the NFL? It’s true.
They’ve started, drafted, and or traded for more black quarterbacks than any team in NFL history. That’s why Jalen Hurts being black isn’t the story this week. The story is he’s replacing Carson Wentz. The multi-million dollar franchise quarterback. Who for some reason hasn’t been able to find the same form he showed his rookie season in the three seasons since the Super Bowl.
The 2020 NFL season will already have an asterisk next to it. You can thank COVID-19 for that. So no matter what happened this year some folks may call this season tainted. With schedule changes, roster changes as well as mask mandates, quarantines, and infection concerns… It’s a wonder the NFL was able to have a season at all.
But knowing just much how much fan interest, and most importantly money is involved in pro football no one should be surprised. Not the least of which is the “gambling” money involved. But that’s another article to be written. This one’s about Carson Wentz being the back up to former Alabama and Oklahoma stand out and now Philadelphia Eagles starting rookie quarterback, Jalen Hurts.
As a college freshman, Hurts became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Alabama in 32 years and produced a historic freshman season under head coach Nick Saban throwing for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns with nine interceptions. His completion percentage was at 62.8 percent.
But he wasn’t done.
He finished the season with a quarterback rating of 139.12. He also rushed for 954 yards and 13 touchdowns, breaking the school single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback. — He was the first player in Alabama history to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in a single game and the first quarterback to rush for 120 yards or more in multiple games. — At 6’1” 223 lbs – This kid was something special.
On December 3, 2016, that year he led his team to win the 2016 SEC Championship over the Florida Gators and was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year before going on to lose the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship against the Clemson Tigers (35–31)
There was much to look forward to in the coming season. —
In his sophomore season In 2017, Hurts led Alabama to a 13–1 season, giving them a playoff spot as a #4 seed, after which they would play The Clemson Tigers in the 2018 Sugar Bowl.
Hurts was the offensive MVP in the game in a 24–6 win victory.
Jalen Hurts would again lead his team to victories throughout his sophomore and Junior seasons full of ups and downs, including a benching and sharing the Quarterback role from time to time.
Yet he continued shattering records and raising eyebrows including appearing on the cover of sports illustrated. When he transferred in his senior year to Oklahoma eyebrows were raised again. But he soon put up the same numbers for Oklahoma that he did for Alabama leading them to the Peach Bowl where they would unfortunately lose to LSU – 63 to 28.
Jalen hurts would come in second for the Heisman Trophy that year.
As I said at the beginning, the Philadelphia Eagles have had more black quarterbacks than any team in professional football. Jalen hurts will be number 12.
So suffice it to say that we may have finally reached the point where a black quarterback being named the starter is no longer a big deal.
And that’s a good thing.
This weekend the Philadelphia Eagles play the New Orleans Saints. Here’s wishing Jalen hurts and the Eagles all the best. —
