For Jalen Hurts, a road game in Nashville turned into something more than just another stop on the schedule.
When the Philadelphia Eagles arrived at Nissan Stadium on Sunday to face the Tennessee Titans, Hurts was met by a banner honoring Steve McNair. That sight hit him in a way he didn’t expect.
On Thursday, while discussing road environments ahead of Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bears, Hurts said the moment stuck with him.
“I have my moments, and you know, last week for me was [one] it was it was a really good feeling, and a bit emotional feeling, you know,” Hurts said. “Pull up to the stadium and seeing Steve McNair on the on the wallpaper outside.”
McNair was one of the quarterbacks Hurts grew up watching, and he remains the one Hurts says he truly looked up to. Hurts has since crossed paths with plenty of major names as his own career has taken off, but McNair is different.
“I get to meet MJ and you know build relationships with him and Tom Brady and all these other guys,” Hurts said. “Steve McNair is the only one that I’ve truly looked up to and watched, and you know, been enamored by, and never got to meet him.”
Hurts also explained what drew him to McNair in the first place. He pointed to McNair’s talent, his presence, and the path he took to stardom.
“I can go on and on about his ability, the demeanor,“ Hurts said. Then he came from the SWAC, so nobody expected it. It was just kind of before its time, and so there’s a lot of history at the position and being a black quarterback and the history of the black quarterback at Philadelphia.”
He added that McNair fit with the kind of quarterbacks who helped shape the position, including Vince Young.
“I think he falls right in suit with some of the greats that have come here, and some of the things that have they’ve had to overcome, and the example that he set. So I think from a dual threat perspective and ability perspective, I looked up to Vince Young. Come to find out, Vince Young, as a kid I didn’t know Vince Young was looking up to Steve McNair, but you got great examples out there, and you know we’re all still kids, so that was a moment for me.”
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