There is hardly a worse moment for a quarterback than losing the ball – when he either throws the leather egg into the hands of an opponent or it slips from his fingers. It’s the moment when a game can be turned on its head; especially when something like this happens in front of an audience of millions in an important final and this loss of possession leads to points for the opponent. Jalen Hurts, playmaker for the Philadelphia Eagles, lost the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs at the beginning of the second quarter in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs equalized – and the question was of course: How would the only 24-year-old react to such a moment?
Well, he first apologized to his peers on the sidelines, and right after that he put on an attacking streak for the history books: Twice he raked in yards on the last attempt with runs to continue that streak; once, again on the last try, he provoked a penalty for the opponent. Then he ran from close range into the end zone: touchdown, his second of the game, by the way; he had opened it with a short sprint into the end zone. Two running touchdowns by a quarterback, only Jim McMahon had managed that for the Chicago Bears before him, 37 years ago.
Which person can claim to give the best possible answer after the worst possible moment on the largest possible stage? Not many.
One sometimes wonders what one can learn from these people who create the best they can on the largest possible stage; you will never be able to pass as precisely or dodge opponents as skillfully as Hurts does. What you can learn from him: dealing with mistakes, humiliation and the unpredictability of life.
“It hurts, of course. But I don’t play for titles or to be loved or hated,” Hurts later said. “It’s about the excitement of getting really good at something, together with others. It hurts to lose, but it means you can get back up.” Hurts didn’t make excuses at this Super Bowl, he immediately took responsibility for losing possession – as he had done before.
Hurts shows that a career – not only in professional sports – can rarely be planned
Hurts hadn’t played well in the 2018 college finals, so Alabama coach Nick Saban benched him at halftime and fielded substitute Tua Tagovailova. It was the ultimate humiliation on what was then the biggest stage possible for him, made even greater by Tagovailova turning the game around. However, Hurts said afterwards: “I knew he was going to make it. I’m really happy for him and the team.”
The following season, he remained a substitute without grumbling, then tried a fresh start in Oklahoma, where he signed up for a pro contract in the NFL. He didn’t complain when the Eagles only brought him in as a backup quarterback for Carson Wentz and kept benching him despite great performances. Hurts says about this time, also in lectures to younger athletes: “It’s never about me; it’s always about the team.” What should shock someone who has experienced something like this?
There are athletes who show how great they are by beating their chests and celebrating themselves. What should you take away from it for yourself, for life as a mere mortal? Hurts, on the other hand, shows that a career – not only in professional sports – can rarely be planned and rarely runs in a straight line. Being able to admit mistakes. And that after the worst possible mistakes you don’t have to despair or even act more cautiously, but rather continue on your way with self-confidence. Because: Hurts later ran into the end zone again. Three running touchdowns in a final, only Terrell Davis had managed that before, 26 years ago. In all, he threw for 304 yards and one touchdown, and rushed for 70 yards, three touchdowns and a two-point conversion to equalize at 35-35. It doesn’t get any better – and it still wasn’t enough.
Hurts was the Super Bowl’s top player; however, it could not be the most valuable. That was, rightly so, the winning team’s playmaker, the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, who had led his team to the winning field goal. Losing the final and still being MVP, only Chuck Howley from the Dallas Cowboys has managed to do that 52 years ago, and he will remain the only one for the time being.
Jalen Hurts didn’t win this final, but he certainly didn’t lose it either – and if he has shown one thing in his life: he will come back even after this defeat.