Jalen Hurts’ rise to NFL stardom has been remarkable.
Once part of a loaded Alabama quarterback room featuring future first-round picks Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones, Hurts now holds a Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl MVP title.
But as Alabama tried to join in the celebration, fans were quick to remind the school how Hurts’ college career played out.
Hurts arrived at Alabama in 2016 and quickly took over as the starting quarterback, leading the Crimson Tide to significant success.
However, in the 2018 title game against Georgia, Hurts struggled mightily in the first half, leading head coach Nick Saban to bench him for freshman Tua Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa went on to lead Alabama to a comeback victory, and Hurts was relegated to a backup role the following season.
After earning his degree, Hurts transferred to Oklahoma, where he flourished as the Sooners’ starter, finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting before being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Fast forward to now, and Hurts is riding high as a Super Bowl champion.
Following Hurts’ historic Super Bowl victory, Alabama’s official social media account congratulated their former quarterback.
However, some fans just weren’t having it.
Many pointed out that Alabama benched Hurts when he was there, only for him to find greater success at Oklahoma…
“So funny. This is the guy your coach benched for Tua. Yall shit on him but now want to claim him? That’s like Ohio state claiming Joe Burrow … Y’all didn’t deserve him. lol.”
“Oh, so now he’s ‘Bama’s QB? Funny, I don’t remember y’all claiming him when Tua took his job.”
“Well this is awkward.”
“BOOMER!!!!!”
“Lol he doesn’t claim bama, he’s a Sooner.”
Despite Alabama’s controversial handling of his college career, Hurts’ time there did lead to one lasting relationship – his fiancée, Bryonna “Bry” Rivera Burrows.
The two met at Alabama while both were students, and though Hurts later transferred to Oklahoma, they remained close.
Their relationship became public in January 2023 when Burrows joined Hurts on the field to celebrate the Eagles’ NFC Championship win over the 49ers.
Now, with a Super Bowl ring, an MVP trophy, and wedding plans on the horizon, Hurts has cemented himself as one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks.
Whether Alabama fans can truly claim him or not remains up for debate. And if we’re being completely honest, Saban made the right decision to bench Hurts for Tua in that championship game.
Despite his current success in the NFL, the Tide most likely would have lost that game had Saban stuck with Hurts at quarterback.
Having said that, where do you stand in the whole Oklahoma/Alabama debate when it comes to claiming Hurts???
