Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Overcame Adversity After Losing Alabama Starting Job

Hurts almost quit football after being benched at Alabama before transferring to Oklahoma and getting drafted by the Eagles.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:53pm

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts recently revealed that he almost quit football after losing his starting job at the University of Alabama to Tua Tagovailoa in 2017. Hurts said there was a time in college where he "really questioned, 'What's going on? Where do I go from here?'" as he faced "a lot of adversity" and felt "counted out" and "doubted." However, Hurts persevered, transferred to the University of Oklahoma, and had a standout senior season that led to him being drafted by the Eagles.

Why it matters

Hurts' story of overcoming adversity and nearly quitting football before ultimately finding success resonates with many athletes and fans who have faced similar challenges in their careers. His willingness to be open about his struggles provides inspiration and encouragement to others who may be going through difficult times.

The details

After losing his starting job at Alabama to Tua Tagovailoa, Hurts made a comeback in the 2018 SEC Championship game when Tagovailoa got injured. However, Hurts recently admitted that he had seriously considered quitting football altogether due to the adversity he faced from being benched and doubted. He would eventually transfer to the University of Oklahoma, where he had a standout senior season and was then drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles.

  • In 2017, Jalen Hurts lost his starting quarterback job at the University of Alabama to Tua Tagovailoa.
  • In 2018, Hurts came off the bench in the SEC Championship game to lead Alabama to victory after Tagovailoa was injured.
  • Hurts transferred to the University of Oklahoma for his senior season in 2019.

The players

Jalen Hurts

The current starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, who overcame adversity after losing his starting job at the University of Alabama.

Tua Tagovailoa

The quarterback who replaced Jalen Hurts as the starter at the University of Alabama in 2017.

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What they’re saying

“A time where I wanted to quit. There was a time I was actually just reflecting on this, there was a time in college where I really questioned, 'What's going on? Where do I go from here?' I had a lot of adversity in front of me. I was counted out. I was doubted. Broken down and dissected and all these different ways. I just persevered.”

— Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback

What’s next

Hurts is currently promoting his first children's book, 'Better Than a Touchdown,' on various media platforms this week.

The takeaway

Jalen Hurts' story of overcoming adversity and nearly quitting football before finding success serves as an inspiration for athletes and fans alike who have faced similar challenges in their careers. His willingness to be open about his struggles demonstrates the importance of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity.