Jalen Hurts and his cigar go viral ahead of Super Bowl return
“You play the game to win," Hurts told reporters after the Eagles defeated the Washington Commanders in the NFC championship game, setting up a Super Bowl rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs.
As Yogi Berra would say, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.”
Following the Eagles’ win over the Washington Commanders, Birds quarterback Jalen Hurts found himself in a familiar place — lighting up a celebratory cigar ahead of a Super Bowl appearance doubters worried was out of reach.
“It’s amazing how much doubt there is sometimes. I can’t quite comprehend it,” head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters Sunday, confused about the level of doubt Hurts received leading up to the game. “He’s just continued to win.”
Hurts’ quiet moment of smoky celebration, captured by The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane, swiftly went viral on social media.
“Lmao he looks like he’s in his 50′s,” wrote one fan. Another pointed out, “He’s also dressed like the best D-coordinator Texas 2A football has ever seen.”
Among those chiming in was Jason Kelce, his former teammate turned ESPN analyst
“This photo is [expletive] incredible,” Kelce wrote.
Hurts even brought the cigar with him during an ESPN hit Sunday night.
It was a similar scene in 2023, though back then Hurts was donned in a lavender jacket paired with lavender pants.
Hurts had even more doubters heading into Super Bowl LVII. Drafted as a backup and used as a gadget player, Hurts fell into the starting job after former first-round pick Carson Wentz fizzled, telling reporters after the Eagles’ NFC championship win against the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 Birds fans “probably didn’t even want to draft me here.”
While the tone was different, Hurts faced questions about the passing game heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Commanders. He answered by throwing for 240 yards, completing over 71% of his passes, and leading an offense that went seven-for-seven in the red zone. Hurts also added three touchdown runs, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for 10 touchdowns in the playoffs.
“I guess he let me out of my straitjacket a little bit today,” Hurts told reporters, suggesting Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore kept the game plans conservative by design.
“It’s not about me. I don’t even play the game for any statistical measure. Nothing more than just winning,” Hurts added.
His track record is pretty clear. He went 39-4 in college. He’s 75-31 as a starter in the NFL (not counting a loss in Week 16, when he was knocked out of the game after throwing just four passes). And a win against the Kansas City Chiefs next week could go a long way in cementing his status as one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
“You play the game to win,” Hurts said.