Jalen Hurts is keeping legendary company after winning his first Super Bowl.
The star Philadelphia Eagles quarterback has been keeping in contact with Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, who recently explained what they talk about in phone conversations.
Hurts revealed earlier in the preseason that he had been getting advice from arguably the NBA’s greatest player, Michael Jordan, in addition to Manning, arguably the greatest quarterback of all time.
What Have Jalen Hurts and Peyton Manning Been Talking About?
Manning said Hurts has been calling him to seek out advice from the two-time Super Bowl champion. He also asks the longtime Indianapolis Colts quarterback for tips on maneuvering the offense, which is guided by coach Nick Sirianni — who was the Colts offensive coordinator before he was hired in Philadelphia.
“He calls me a lot and just asks me lots of questions,” Manning told NBC Sports analyst Cris Collinsworth. “They actually run a lot of plays that we used to run from that Sirianni to [former Colts coach] Frank Reich to [Manning’s mentor] Tom Moore, sort of that chain.”
Manning has watched Hurts grow up in the public eye, especially his high-profile benching for Tua Tagovailoa in the FBS national championship game against Georgia on Jan. 8, 2018, when Tagovailoa rallied Alabama for a 26-23 win.
He also marveled at Hurts’ play in both Super Bowls, where he has 525 passing yards, three touchdowns and just one INT, plus 142 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns and gone 1-1 against Patrick Mahomes and the dynastic Kansas City Chiefs.
“That’s the kind of situation where it’s embarrassing, and you just don’t sort of recover from it mentally and emotionally,” Manning said of getting benched. “That tells you how mentally tough he is. They said he was the first one to high-five Tua in the locker room and was as celebratory after that win of all the players that were involved in the game.
“And he’s played so well in both of those Super Bowls.”
Manning rattled off all of Hurts’ physical gifts, including his ability to run, pass and squat 600-plus pounds. Yet, Manning had a specific intangible he singled out as Hurts’ best most impressive attribute.
“He calls me with very specific questions about certain plays,” Manning said. “He’s a student of the game. … His appreciation of the cerebral part of the game is what’s impressive to me and how he’s taken his game to the next level.
“I think the sky’s the limit for this guy.”
What Other Superstar Athletes Has Jalen Hurts Sought Advice From?
Though Manning went public with the conversations he has had with Hurts, the Eagles quarterback has been tight-lipped about the other superstar-caliber athletes and entrepreneurs he has sought advice from.
“Yeah, you have conversations with some pretty good people, pretty cool people, successful people,” Hurts told ESports Insider last month when asked if he’s spoken to other greats outside of Jordan. “I keep that intimate. I know obviously the relationship with MJ is out there, so I’ll be respectful to the other ones.”
Manning spoke of how meaningful speaking with Hurts is, and Hurts’ friendship with Jordan has been valuable to the Eagles QB.
“That’s been a growing relationship and growing friendship,” Hurts said. “Obviously the mentality he’s had, what he’s meant to competitive sports, speaks for itself. That’s something that I’m able to lean on.”
