Jalen Hurts named to Time100 List of world’s most influential people

Jalen Hurts got benched during Alabama’s win over Georgia in the 2017 National Championship Game but his response to that decision has been a story resonating across the world.

And two months after his first Super Bowl title + MVP performance, Hurts has been named to the Time100 list, celebrating the most influential people in the world in 2025.

Keep reading to see why Hurts was selected + learn all about his journey to this point in his career.

Time100

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The Time100 list started just over two decades ago. In the past, Alabama has had several other connections including Apple CEO Tim Cook (5 times—last in 2022), actor Laverne Cox (2015), environmentalist Catherine Coleman Flowers (2023), scientist Karen Miga (2022) and more.

Hurts joins that group with Alabama ties. While he may have been drafted out of Oklahoma, he played three seasons with the Crimson Tide and graduated from the University of Alabama.

This year’s Time100 list included a quick write up on each individual written by someone on a previous Time100 list. Hurts had his written by five-time World Series champion Derek Jeter.

“I admire how great athletes deal with both success and failure. What Jalen Hurts went through in being benched during the 2018 National Championship game would break a lot of people down. But not Jalen; he focused on what he could control and found a new path to success. In the NFL, Jalen didn’t let a Super Bowl defeat in 2023 shake his confidence. He used that loss as motivation and kept a picture of himself walking off the field after losing as his phone lock screen.

“This past February, Jalen found himself on the Super Bowl stage again. This time he led Philadelphia to a convincing victory in its rematch with Kansas City. We connected shortly after, and the only thing he asked about was insight on going back and winning again. Sometimes people win, then exhale. Jalen is not exhaling. He’s embracing the next challenge. Win or lose, Jalen’s resilience and determination offer all of us something to admire.”

Derek Jeter

Jalen Hurts

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Hurts was not a highly-touted quarterback recruit but he got to Alabama at a time when the position battle was wide open. He won over many fans with his spring game performance but even more throughout the 2016 season.

During his time in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide had:

• 41-3 overall record
• 2017 National Champion
• 3 College Football Playoff appearances
• 2 SEC Championships

Hurts accounted for 71 total touchdowns across his three seasons with Alabama but he transferred to Oklahoma for his final season and that’s where he got more attention from NFL Scouts. He finished second in the Heisman voting in 2019 after accounting for 53 total touchdowns in one season.

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted him in the second round but he didn’t take over the starting role full-time until his second season. In just five years in the NFL, Hurts has:

• 46 regular season wins
• 2 Super Bowl appearances
• 1 Super Bowl win
• 1 Super Bowl MVP
• 2 Pro Bowl selections

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