Jalen Hurts has etched his name into the record books by becoming the latest Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
Leading the Eagles to victory in Super Bowl LIX, Hurts not only secured his first Lombardi Trophy but also continued to pave the way for future generations of Black quarterbacks in the league.
Hurts, who has been the face of the Eagles franchise since being drafted in 2020, delivered on football’s biggest stage! This victory comes two years after Hurts’ first Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl LVII, where he set a record-breaking rushing performance but ultimately fell short against the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes.
Now, in his second attempt, Hurts has secured his place in history.
With his win, Hurts joins an exclusive fraternity of Black quarterbacks who have hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy, a list that began with Doug Williams in 1988. Williams became the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl, leading Washington Redskins to a 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII.
Decades later, Russell Wilson became the second Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl in Super Bowl XLVIII (2014) when he helped lead the Seattle Seahawks to a 43-8 victory over the Denver Broncos.
More recently, Patrick Mahomes has carried the torch for Black quarterbacks, winning three Super Bowls and earning three Super Bowl MVPs along the way. His victories came in Super Bowl LIV (2020) against the San Francisco 49ers, Super Bowl LVII (2023) against Hurts and the Eagles, and Super Bowl LVIII (2024) against the 49ers once again.
Beyond those who have won, several other Black quarterbacks have reached the Super Bowl, making history even without securing a ring.
Steve McNair came agonizingly close in Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000, leading the Tennessee Titans to a last-minute drive that fell just one yard short of forcing overtime against the St. Louis Rams.
In 2005, Donovan McNabb led the Philadelphia Eagles to Super Bowl XXXIX, where they lost a tight game to the New England Patriots despite McNabb throwing for 357 yards and three touchdowns.
Colin Kaepernick made headlines in Super Bowl XLVII in 2013 with the San Francisco 49ers, nearly completing a comeback victory against the Baltimore Ravens, only to fall short in the final minutes.
In 2016, Cam Newton took the Carolina Panthers to Super Bowl 50 after an MVP season but struggled against Denver Broncos defense in a 24-10 loss. And of course, Hurts made his first Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl LVII, putting up one of the best performances ever by a quarterback in a losing effort, rushing for three touchdowns and throwing for another before Mahomes and the Chiefs mounted a comeback.
With his Super Bowl LIX victory, Hurts’ win marks another significant moment for Black quarterbacks in the NFL, reinforcing that the position is no longer behind a racial barrier. With more young, talented Black quarterbacks emerging, such as Lamar Jackson, C.J. Stroud, and Justin Fields, Hurts’ win serves as inspiration for future generations.
Photo Credit: Instagram- @JalenHurts
