Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts just added another major win to his name and this time, it’s off the field. The 26-year-old Super Bowl MVP has been named one of TIME Magazine ’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025, joining a global list of gamechangers, trailblazers, and icons. But the real moment? His tribute was written by baseball legend Derek Jeter , who praised Hurts not just for his performance, but for the way he carries himself in the face of setbacks.
Jalen Hurts earns spot on TIME 100 after bouncing back from a Super Bowl loss with a championship season
Hurts didn’t just win a Super Bowl, he rewrote his own narrative. After falling short in 2023, Hurts used that loss as fuel. He even kept a photo of himself walking off the field after that defeat as his phone lock screen, letting the pain push him forward. And in February 2025, he delivered, leading the Eagles to a 40–22 win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX and taking home the MVP title.
That kind of bounce-back moment was more than football. It was leadership in real time, the type that earns you a spot on TIME's most influential list.
Derek Jeter’s TIME tribute says Hurts never let failure define him and always asked how to improve
Jeter’s essay wasn’t just a standard sports tribute. It was a personal reflection, one icon recognizing another. He highlighted Hurts’ 2018 benching in the National Championship as a moment that could’ve broken most athletes. But Hurts? He stayed locked in, transferred schools, rebuilt, and rose.
“Jalen didn’t let a Super Bowl defeat in 2023 shake his confidence,” Jeter wrote.
“This past February, Jalen found himself on the Super Bowl stage again. This time he led Philadelphia to a convincing victory… We connected shortly after, and the only thing he asked about was insight on going back and winning again.”
It wasn’t about basking in the win, it was about chasing the next challenge.
Beyond football, Jalen Hurts is also changing lives through his foundation and community work
While the spotlight often follows his game-day highlights, Hurts has also become a steady presence off the field. In 2024, he launched the Jalen Hurts Foundation , focused on education and wellness for underserved youth. One of its major projects, “Keep It Cool,” donated air conditioning units to Philadelphia public schools, a literal lifesaver during summer months.
For TIME, impact means more than fame. It’s about influence and Hurts is clearly using his platform to uplift others.
Also read - Inside Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce’s 1587 Prime: A luxury steakhouse with football field floors and VIP entrances
Jalen Hurts earns spot on TIME 100 after bouncing back from a Super Bowl loss with a championship season
An icon and on the @TIME list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2025.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) April 16, 2025
That's Jalen Hurts.@JalenHurts | #TIME100 pic.twitter.com/pnl6b259Ct
Hurts didn’t just win a Super Bowl, he rewrote his own narrative. After falling short in 2023, Hurts used that loss as fuel. He even kept a photo of himself walking off the field after that defeat as his phone lock screen, letting the pain push him forward. And in February 2025, he delivered, leading the Eagles to a 40–22 win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX and taking home the MVP title.
That kind of bounce-back moment was more than football. It was leadership in real time, the type that earns you a spot on TIME's most influential list.
Derek Jeter’s TIME tribute says Hurts never let failure define him and always asked how to improve
Eagles Super Bowl champ Jalen Hurts has been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. Here is what Derek Jeter wrote about him.
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) April 16, 2025
“I admire how great athletes deal with both success and failure. What Jalen Hurts went through in being benched during… pic.twitter.com/4L6YtOCFmV
Jeter’s essay wasn’t just a standard sports tribute. It was a personal reflection, one icon recognizing another. He highlighted Hurts’ 2018 benching in the National Championship as a moment that could’ve broken most athletes. But Hurts? He stayed locked in, transferred schools, rebuilt, and rose.
“Jalen didn’t let a Super Bowl defeat in 2023 shake his confidence,” Jeter wrote.
“This past February, Jalen found himself on the Super Bowl stage again. This time he led Philadelphia to a convincing victory… We connected shortly after, and the only thing he asked about was insight on going back and winning again.”
It wasn’t about basking in the win, it was about chasing the next challenge.
Beyond football, Jalen Hurts is also changing lives through his foundation and community work
100% of proceeds go to Philly education.📚 Be part of the change with 1 MISSION! pic.twitter.com/8ov0nhOOnL
— The Jalen Hurts Foundation (@JalenHurtsFound) February 5, 2025
While the spotlight often follows his game-day highlights, Hurts has also become a steady presence off the field. In 2024, he launched the Jalen Hurts Foundation , focused on education and wellness for underserved youth. One of its major projects, “Keep It Cool,” donated air conditioning units to Philadelphia public schools, a literal lifesaver during summer months.
For TIME, impact means more than fame. It’s about influence and Hurts is clearly using his platform to uplift others.
Also read - Inside Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce’s 1587 Prime: A luxury steakhouse with football field floors and VIP entrances
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