The man who was replaced by Tua Tagovailoa in 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship game is now the new money king of the NFL.
Once upon a time, Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban made the bold decision to bench Jalen Hurts at halftime and replace him with true freshman Tua Tagovailoa. Alabama was trailing 13-0, and Saban hoped that the quarterback change would provide a spark to the team’s offense. The decision proved to be a game-changer. Tua Tagovailoa led Alabama to a comeback, eventually forcing the game into overtime. Then, Tagovailoa threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith, securing a 26-23 victory for the National Championship for Bama.
Not many would have bounced back from a benching on the biggest stage in college football, but Hurts persevered.
Following the 2018 National Championship game, Hurts continued to play for Alabama the following season despite Tua Tagovailoa taking the starting job, and he primarily served as the backup. Despite this change, Hurts always displayed great character and sportsmanship, staying committed to the team and was always prepared when called upon.
During the SEC Championship game against Georgia, Hurts got an opportunity to shine once again when Tagovailoa suffered an injury. He entered the game and led Alabama to a come-from-behind victory, securing their spot in the College Football Playoff. Incredible story, and it is the reason the Alabama faithful praise him as a legend.
Hurts had the chance to transfer to the University of Oklahoma as a graduate and play immediately during the 2019 season without having to sit out a year.
Hurts had an outstanding season with Oklahoma, leading the Sooners to a Big 12 Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. He threw for 3,851 yards, rushed for 1,298 yards, and had a combined 53 touchdowns (32 passing, 20 rushing, and 1 receiving). Hurts was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, ultimately finishing second to Joe Burrow. No shame in that. Burrow led the most prolific offense in college football history. Any other year, that trophy might have been his.
After his successful season with Oklahoma, Jalen Hurts entered the 2020 NFL Draft, where he was selected in the second round (53rd overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles.
A pick that was questioned by the fanbase and NFL fans alike, because the Eagles still had “their guy” Carson Wentz.
Benched at Bama during the biggest moment of his career, transferred to Oklahoma, drafted with no expectations by Philly. Here he stands, with the biggest contract in NFL history.
The perseverance is admirable. He’s a man who has shown his leadership abilities at two premiere college football programs, and then led the Eagles to an NFC Championship (and one penalty away from a Super Bowl).
In a salary cap friendly deal (somehow), Hurts is due $110 million at signing with another $126 million due in March. Minimal changes to his cap hit, which was suppose to be $4.3 million, now stands in between $5-6 million. Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman has given Eagles fans yet another reason to bow to him. To put Hurts’ contract into perspective: Zach Wilson’s 2023 salary cap hit is roughly ~ $9.6 million dollars.
On top of that, the Eagles have the following picks in this years upcoming draft:
1 – No. 10 overall (from New Orleans Saints)
1 – No. 30 overall (Eagles’ own pick)
2 – No. 62 overall (Eagles’ own pick)
3 – No. 94 overall (Eagles’ own pick
7 – No. 219 overall (from Minnesota Vikings through Houston Texans)
7 – No. 248 (Eagles’ own pick)
Both parties came here to get the deal done and finish the job after coming up short in the Super Bowl. Instead of playing the franchise tag game, the Eagles decided to stay on top of it and now polish up their roster for another deep post season run.
After Jalen Hurts' final college game, Nicole Lynn says she reached out to him through an Instagram DM:
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) April 17, 2023
"Hey, have you picked an agent? If not, I’d love to link.”
Three years later, she's Klutch Sports' President of Football, and Hurts is the highest-paid player in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/MZtVdrSDS8
Jalen Hurts knew ALL along!
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 17, 2023
🎥: @Eagles pic.twitter.com/p2kalAPQjz
Queen of the Sports Agency and Talent industry. If you don’t know, now you know.
She has been recognized as one of the few women, and particularly one of the few African American women, to represent high-profile athletes in the male-dominated field of sports agency.
Nicole Lynn has worked with top athletes in various sports, including football and basketball. In 2019, she made history as the first black woman to represent a top-5 NFL draft pick when she represented Quinnen Williams, who was selected third overall by the New York Jets.
Lynn has also been featured in numerous publications for her accomplishments and has been recognized as an influential figure in the sports industry.
She has negotiated the biggest contract in NFL history in terms of average salary per year. Jalen Hurts will be averaging a $51 million per year salary until 2028.
SHE EVEN GOT HIM THE ALL VALUABLE NO TRADE CLAUSE. The first the Philadelphia Eagles have given out in franchise history.
Personally, this deal done by all parties is extraordinary. Bravo to Ms. Lynn for not only getting her client what is best for him, but together, they may have created the blueprint for how these future Quarterback contracts should be negotiated. No Franchise Tag, no BS, get it done the year before they even hit Free Agency. The QB not being signed long term is never the route to go.
Both parties committing and taking care of each other business wise for the benefit of the organization. Cap friendly deals with quarterbacks who understand that keeping their weapons is just as important as filling your pockets. I see it as a more in depth relationship. Not only Quarterback to GM but the organization’s business partner.
A reliable player who will restructure their contracts and come to the table every year to work with the Front Office to provide their input, or at least hear the message of the organization’s overall direction.
This deal will more likely set the standard for the dels we will see in the near future, like Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert. More than the Patrick Mahomes deal or Deshaun Watson deal, especially while these deals are currently being structured under this NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (that is set to expire in March 2030).
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