​ “I wanted to quit”: Jalen Hurts shares emotional struggle and admits he nearly walked away from football

Life as an NFL star often looks perfect from the outside. But Jalen Hurts recently revealed that his path to the league almost stopped before it even started. The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback admitted he once seriously thought about quitting football during one of the toughest moments of his college career.Hurts spoke openly about that struggle on March 10, 2026, during an appearance on Good Morning America while promoting his children’s book Better Than a Touchdown. The moment showed a rare emotional side of the Eagles star and explained why perseverance shaped the player fans see today.

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts reflects on the moment doubt nearly pushed him out of football

The turning point for Jalen Hurts came during his college years at the University of Alabama. The star faced criticism, competition, and constant doubt about his future at quarterback.

When the host asked if he ever thought about quitting, Hurts did not hesitate. “A time where I wanted to quit… there was a time, and I was actually just reflecting on this,” Hurts said on Good Morning America. “There was a time in college where I really questioned what’s going on… where do I go from here?”

That period came when Hurts battled intense scrutiny and uncertainty about his role. Critics dissected his game and questioned whether he could lead at the highest level.

Hurts explained how overwhelming that moment felt. “I had a lot of adversity in front of me. I was counted out, I was doubted and broken down and dissected in all these different ways,” he said during the same interview on ABC’s Good Morning America.Instead of walking away, Hurts leaned on his belief in the game and his mindset. “My passion overcame every ounce of doubt… every ounce of fear,” Hurts added on the show. “You’ve got to have the courage to press forward.”That decision changed everything. Hurts later transferred to the University of Oklahoma, where he rebuilt his reputation and re-established himself as a top quarterback prospect. The Philly selected him in the 2020 NFL Draft with the 53rd overall pick. At first, he served as Carson Wentz's backup. Soon after, he became the full-time starter and the face of the franchise.Years later, the same quarterback who once questioned his future led the Eagles to victory in Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs and earned Super Bowl MVP honours. That journey explains why the title fits perfectly. The star QB truly did consider quitting football. Yet that moment of doubt shaped the resilience that now defines the Jalen Hurts Eagles era.