New York Times bestselling author Michael Holley brings us Hurts, the first deeply reported biography of one of the hottest players in the NFL, Jalen Hurts, quarterback for football's budding dynasty, the Philadelphia Eagles.
At just twenty-seven-years-old, Jalen Hurts has already introduced a unique quarterbacking style and presence to the NFL. With a powerlifting background, the Philadelphia Eagles captain is perhaps the strongest quarterback in the league. He has produced historically high totals with his rushing touchdowns, combined with historically low interception numbers, though Hurts was an NFL draft afterthought, the fifth quarterback taken in his 2020 class, after the likes of Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa, who displaced him at the University of Alabama. Yet his six playoff wins equal the combined total of the quarterbacks drafted before him. He's appeared in two Super Bowls, making his mark as an MVP in Super Bowl LIX and setting the record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in Super Bowl LVII.
All of this from a player who went from a prized high school recruit to an odd man out in college. When he got to the pros, his path to the field once again appeared to be blocked by a franchise quarterback who resented Hurts's presence. But Hurts quickly earned the job and, since that moment, the Eagles have the most wins of any team in their conference.
Featuring interviews with dozens of people who know Hurts best, this book reveals a man the public rarely sees. There is Hurts, the handsome pitchman, championship quarterback, and meticulous image-creator with a degree in public relations. But there's also the man who learned to navigate sudden coaching changes and tensions, trades, slumps, and even a mysterious conflict with wide receiver AJ Brown, who used to be one of his best friends.
Hurts is a must-read for anyone fascinated by this elite quarterback, the demanding city he plays in, and the ascending dynasty that he plays for.
About the Author :
Michael Holley is a journalism professor at Boston University. He has written six New York Times bestselling books and has spent a dozen years working for three daily newspapers (the Akron Beacon Journal, Boston Globe and Chicago Tribune). He was part of the Beacon Journal's Pulitzer Prize-winning team in 1994. He has co-hosted a sports-talk radio show in Boston for 13 years as well as co-hosting studio and pre- and post-game shows now on NBC Sports Boston.
