Jalen Hurts: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback agrees record deal - report
- Published
Jalen Hurts set the single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback last season with 18 - including three in the Super Bowl, another record for a quarterback
Quarterback Jalen Hurts has agreed a new deal with the Philadelphia Eagles that makes him the highest-paid player in NFL history, according to a report.
The 24-year-old, who led the Eagles to Super Bowl 57 in February, has agreed a five-year extension to the end of 2028.
The deal is said to be worth $255m (£206m),, external meaning his annual salary will be the highest in NFL history.
Hurts was a leading contender for last season's Most Valuable Player award in just his third season in the league.
He lost out to Patrick Mahomes, whose Kansas City Chiefs team beat the Eagles to win Super Bowl 57.
The full amount of Hurts' new deal is second only to the 10-year extension Mahomes, 27, signed with the Chiefs in 2020.
It also includes $179m in total guarantees, including $110m at signing, second only to the five-year, fully guaranteed $230m deal that Deshaun Watson signed when joining the Cleveland Browns from the Houston Texans last year.
Hurts set the single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback last season with 18 - including three in the Super Bowl, another record for a quarterback.
He also threw for 3,701 passing yards and 22 touchdowns as the Eagles finished with a 14-3 record to clinch the top seed in the NFC Conference before winning the NFC Championship to reach the Super Bowl.
A second-round draft pick in 2020, Hurts replaced Carson Wentz as the Eagles' starting quarterback before the 2021 season and has a 25-13 record from his 38 career starts.
Hurts' new status recognised by Eagles
Analysis - Ben Collins, BBC Sport
After leading the Eagles to the play-offs in his first season as their starting quarterback, Hurts was expected to continue his development in 2022. Few expected him to take such a leap forward though.
He had two years left on his rookie contract and there were question marks over whether he would keep the job beyond 2022, but Hurts answered them emphatically.
There was no doubting his ability to run the ball and, while that is the strongest part of his game, he also allayed any lingering concerns over his throwing accuracy and leadership skills.
He typifies the new breed of dual-threat quarterback, who can lead their team down the field with both their legs and their arm.
After leading Philly to the brink of a Super Bowl win, the Eagles were determined to secure his long-term future and reward him with a contract that recognises his new status as one of the NFL's best young quarterbacks.
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