Houston native Jalen Hurts leads Philadelphia Eagles to Super Bowl

The former Channelview star is one win away from a championship.

Jan. 29, 2023Updated: Jan. 29, 2023 5:21 p.m.

Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball against Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

The Houston high school football scene will be represented prominently at Super Bowl LVII, with one of the most talented players to come out of the Bayou City in recent memory set to start at quarterback with the NFL championship on the line.

Former Channelview High School star Jalen Hurts helped lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance on Sunday, as his team routed the San Francisco 49ers 31-7 in the NFC Championship Game. Philadelphia will face the winner of Sunday evening’s AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals. 

Hurts played a key role in the Eagles’ victory, despite a relatively modest stat line of 121 passing yards and 39 yards on the ground. He engineered a 15-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that effectively put the game away late in the third quarter. He racked up 65 total yards during the possession, which he capped with a touchdown run from one yard out that put the Eagles up by 21.

Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Hurts—who was one of the top-rated quarterbacks in the country at Channelview, where he played for his father, Averion Hurts—discussed his connection to Houston prior to the Eagles’ 29-17 win over the Texans at NRG Stadium in early November. Hurts noted he looked up to several iconic Houston quarterbacks growing up, but a former Madison High School prodigy and University of Texas national champion stands out above the rest. 

“It was definitely Vince Young,” Hurts said at the time. “I watched Steve McNair a lot, but Vince Young—watching him at Texas, hearing the name around Houston, playing at Houston Madison—it was him. He was a hell of a player, did great things at all levels, and he’s definitely a legend in the city of Houston.”

Josh Criswell is the sports editor at Chron. He is a Houston native and has previously worked at the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Huntsville Item and iHeartMedia. He enjoys Australian Rules Football, LSU game days in Baton Rouge and being tortured by the DePaul men’s basketball program.