Alabama Coach Nick Saban Tips Hat To Eagles QB Jalen Hurts
Former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts signed a five-year, $255 million contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, the biggest in NFL history. The contract also includes $179 million in guaranteed money.
Hurts is rewarded after leading the Eagles to Super Bowl LVII, where the team lost 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs. It was Hurts’ first appearance in a title game since the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship, where Alabama head coach Nick Saban benched him for Tua Tagovalia at halftime. After being benched, Hurts never started another game for the Crimson Tide and transferred to Oklahoma in 2019.
Despite the benching, it’s difficult to find any hard feelings between Hurts and his former coach, as Saban reacted to his extension during an appearance on The Next Round.
“We’re happy for Jalen, his family. He’s been rewarded for just what you said,” Saban said. “You couldn’t find a better guy. Can’t find a better leader. Can’t find a more determined, hard-working guy that’s got great sense of purpose. Not only understands what he wants to do, but he has a willingness to do all the things that needed to do to develop and get it done.
“My hat’s off to him. They had a great year, the Eagles this year, and he had a great year. We’re just happy that the organization recognized the fact that he’s going to be their quarterback for a long time.”
There also seems to be no bitterness on Hurts' end towards Alabama, saying, "My time at Alabama, definitely appreciated that, I learned so much. I built a lot of great friendships.”
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