Perseverance Built by The Journey of Brother Jalen Hurts

By Brother Quinest Bishop, Sr.

In the spotlight of victory and the silence of doubt, Brother Jalen Hurts has remained the same man—resolute, humble, and relentless. From the first time he laced up cleats in Channelview, Texas, to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy as Super Bowl MVP, Hurts has carried something greater than ambition: purpose.

It is the same purpose that anchors the cardinal principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift—the foundational pillars of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., where he was initiated in 2020 through the Alpha Tau Chapter in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

His story is not just about touchdowns and trophies—it’s about grit, grace, and the powerful transformation that happens when perseverance meets opportunity.

The Formation Of Fortitude

Jalen Hurts was born to lead. The son of a high school football coach and a mother who worked in special education, Hurts grew up learning the value of discipline, faith, and family. He began his college career as a freshman phenom at the University of Alabama, earning SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and leading the Crimson Tide to back-to-back national title appearances.

But the defining moment of his journey wasn’t a win—it was a benching. In the January 2018 National Championship Game, Hurts was replaced at halftime by Tua Tagovailoa. For most athletes, that moment might have shattered confidence. For Hurts, it became the crucible of character.

“I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Hurts later said. “That day made me who I am.” In that quiet moment of loss, Hurts chose humility. He chose brotherhood. And when the opportunity came to step up again—in the December 2018 SEC Championship Game— he delivered poetic justice, leading Alabama to victory.

The scene was almost cinematic. But Hurts wasn’t finished writing his story.

A NEW CHAPTER, SAME MISSION

When Hurts transferred to the University of Oklahoma in 2019, he did so with boulders on his shoulders, not chips. “Everything I do, I take it personal,” he once said. “I don’t feel chips—I feel boulders.” At Oklahoma, he unleashed his full potential as a dual-threat quarterback, becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist and proving to the NFL that he was more than just a game manager—he was a leader. And yet, despite his accolades, he fell to the 53rd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, selected by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Once again, doubt lingered. Once again, Jalen Hurts answered with work.

True to Omega’s principle of Perseverance, Hurts out trained, out studied, and outperformed expectations. By 2022, he had led the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance— only to come up short. Most quarterbacks never make it back. Hurts, however, is not most quarterbacks.

Glory Forged In Grit

Super Bowl LIX was more than a game; it was a declaration. With the football world watching, Jalen Hurts delivered a performance worthy of legacy—completing 17 of 21 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, adding 72 rushing yards and another score on the ground. The Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22, and Hurts was named Super Bowl MVP.

His 46-yard strike to DeVonta Smith all but sealed the win, while his rushing numbers broke his own Super Bowl record. He joined rarified air, now trailing only Emmitt Smith in all-time Super Bowl rushing touchdowns.

The victory wasn’t just about numbers—it was about narrative. Jalen Hurts had faced adversity at every level: college, draft day, the media, even fans. And yet, through it all, he endured, adjusted, and triumphed.

More Than A Quarterback

Hurts’ impact off the field mirrors the purpose-driven excellence he displays on it. Through the Jalen Hurts Foundation, he advocates for youth advancement, education, and personal empowerment.

“There is an opportunity to encourage and nurture our youth to pursue their passions,” the foundation affirms. “It is a privilege to use our platform to do so.”

Guided by the same values that fueled his own journey, Hurts reaches young people across the country with a message of belief, resilience, and self-worth. His giving is rooted not in recognition, but in responsibility—born from a deep understanding that a single voice of encouragement can transform a life.

Hurts holds fast to the belief that every young person carries untapped greatness. He lives by the principle that consistent support and belief can turn potential into purpose. His work in the community—through education, mentorship, and outreach—embodies the spirit of Uplift and reflects a life led with intention.

Courtesy

The Future Is Now

Hurts walks a path lit by those who came before him. Bro. Walton, the first Black quarterback to suit up for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1976 to 1979, broke barriers with quiet strength and unshakable resolve—another proud Omega Man.

Today, Hurts carries that legacy not for glory, but with gratitude, honoring a fraternity rooted in excellence, humility, and service.

Jalen Hurts is no longer just a rising talent—he is a transformative presence in the NFL. His devotion to his craft, to growth, and to leading by example is steadfast. Whether he’s breaking down film or reflecting on life’s deeper meaning, Hurts approaches both with uncommon discipline and deep purpose.

A student of more than just the game, he turns every challenge into a lesson, every moment into a step forward — proving that greatness begins within.

Off the field, his words are measured, but mighty. He remains grounded in faith, family, and the hunger to grow—not chasing headlines, but chasing impact. Jalen Hurts doesn’t seek to be the loudest in the room—he simply strives to be the most prepared, and in his humility lies his power.

The mission, for him, has only just begun—and his journey is far from finished.

“In other words, to sum up what I mean; we should add one more cardinal principle, if not actually, we should make it a part of our future activities, “Service”; for it is the one thing that dominates all business and economic life of today.

It is the key note of all living vital agencies which are set up in the interest of mankind, and it is the one thing that makes life in whatever sense we wish to consider it, worth while.

Let it be said of Omega of the future that “We live to serve our fellow man”.