Jalen Hurts cites Alabama benching as a defining moment in his career
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 1, 2026, 11:55 PM
Last updated Sep 1, 2026

Jalen Hurts continues to view his development as an NFL quarterback through the experience of losing his starting job at Alabama. During the 2017 national championship game against Georgia, Hurts was benched at halftime in favor of Tua Tagovailoa. Despite the setback, he remained with the program for another season before transferring to Oklahoma. This path eventually led him to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he has since played in two Super Bowls and earned championship honors. Hurts credits his professional approach to the lessons learned during that period, maintaining a focus on identifying the next opportunity rather than dwelling on past disappointments. He now applies that mindset to his career in the NFL, framing his success as a result of the response to being removed from the depth chart.
- •Hurts was benched at halftime during the 2017 national championship game against Georgia.
- •Tua Tagovailoa replaced Hurts and led the comeback for Alabama in that contest.
- •Hurts later transferred to Oklahoma to complete his collegiate career.
- •The Eagles selected Hurts in the second round of the NFL draft.
- •Hurts has achieved Super Bowl appearances and an MVP award in the NFL.
- 11:55 PMYahoo Sports — Alabama benching still shapes how Jalen Hurts views his career
"Jalen Hurts still views his NFL rise through the lens of losing his starting job during Alabama’s title game
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