Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was voted as the winner of the Pete Rozelle Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl LIX, but was quick to pay tribute to the defensive effort that stymied the opposing Kansas City Chiefs’ ambitions of three titles in a row.

Hurts completed 17 of 22 attempts for 221 yards and two touchdowns and added 72 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground in the Eagles’ unexpected 40-22 victory over the reigning champions — the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a Super Bowl — and became the 34th quarterback to take home the game’s highest individual honour. The Eagles, despite being thwarted on their opening possession scored frequently thereafter, going into the halftime interval with an unanswered 24-point lead.

“I think it definitely took a team effort, a group effort,” Hurts told journalists in the immediate aftermath of the onfield celebrations. “The only thing I can think about is all the effort, all the work, that was put in over the course of time. I think we had a focused group out there: the offense was able to score points to take advantage of opportunities [we were given] and then the defense played their ass off. They played how they played all year. I truly believe offense wins games but defense wins championships — and how that defense has been able to play is a great testament to them.”

Hurts became only the fifth quarterback with multiple touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown in a Super Bowl, joining Ken Anderson (Super Bowl XVI), Pro Football Hall of Famers Brett Favre (Super Bowl XXXI) and Joe Montana (Super Bowl XIX), as well as Sunday’s opponent Patrick Mahomes (Super Bowl LIV). The Eagle, whose ability under center has been questioned by fans and media alike over the few seasons he has been in the league, also put up 304 passing yards and 70 rushing yards in Super Bowl LVII, with his performance in New Orleans making him the first quarterback ever with at least 200 passing yards and 50 rushing yards in multiple Super Bowls.

“I’m still processing it, you know,” Hurts smiled. “It’s been a long journey, and a journey of ups and downs, highs and lows, but I’ve always stayed true to it, having

this vision of just being the best that I can be and that evolving over time. But you don’t do great things without the guys around you, so the effort, the work [is something you’re] always leaning on, trusting in that, trusting the process and staying the course, sticking to the script.

“I’ve always found a thrill in any doubt and any questioning, any opinions — it’s always been something that I’ve embraced and I don’t want it to change now just because of the result. You’re just running running your race and playing with purpose. This is this is this is what I’m called to do in this season of my life and I’m going to give it all I have and try my best to leave no stone unturned.”

Despite leaping out to such a commanding interval lead, Hurts admitted that he never felt the game was safe, especially given the Chiefs’ propensity for comebacks, and narrow wins, in 2024.

“It was just really about taking it a play at a time,” he insisted. “You know, I look back on previous games in previous years and you want to put a high value on finishing, having great focus and finishing. I think about the last time we were in this game, we were up 10 at half-time and they played a hell of a game to get back into it. This time, we wanted to put a high focus on finishing it the right way — and it took a team effort.

“It’s about us, how we approach things, never getting too high, never getting too low — just processing it, you know. You’ve got to be able to use these experiences that you’ve had in the past ‘cuz they’re all formative for the future, and I think we’ve been able to do that. I give a lot of credit, just from a chemistry standpoint, to all those Georgia guys and all the familiarity we have on our team. How that

defense plays, they they’ve had that continuity for a very long time, so I think they’ve been able to carry that on from Georgia to Philly. And, honestly, it’s the same thing on offense, being able to build off of prior relationships and be all in on

this one thing. I know Saquon [Barkley] is new to the bunch, but we’ve all watched him play throughout his college career, and always known the type of player he is, and we put it all together.”