Jalen Hurts on Nick Saban: âSad day in the game of footballâ
At Alabama in 2018, coach Nick Saban chose Tua Tagovailoa as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback over Jalen Hurts.
Saban made the choice even though Hurts had been the quarterback as Alabama reached the CFP national-championship game in each of the previous two seasons. Hurts threw for 4,861 yards and 40 touchdowns and ran for 1,809 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2016 and 2017, but he lost his starting spot as a junior.
On Thursday, Hurts said he has “a ton of respect” for his former coach, who stepped down on Wednesday after 17 seasons at Alabama.
Now the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, Hurts was asked during his Thursday press conference about Saban’s retirement.
“Obviously, I think a sad day in the game of football, just knowing how much he’s been to the game,” Hurts said. “It’s surreal. I know for me personally he’s always been coaching ever since I’ve been alive, and growing up and knowing what he’s been, and then knowing why I committed to go to that university because of the man he was and the intentions he had and the way he went about his business and his process, so I have a ton of respect for him.
“He’ll definitely be missed in the game, but I know he’ll be enjoying himself and be out there watching. I know he can’t move too far from it. Coach Saban knows I have a ton of respect for him and everything he’s been able to do to help his players.”
With Alabama trailing Georgia 13-0 in the national-title game for the 2017 season, Saban pulled Hurts at halftime for Tagovailoa, who rallied the Crimson Tide to a 26-23 overtime victory, throwing a 41-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeVonta Smith to win the game.
After returning the favor by leading a fourth-quarter comeback for a 35-28 victory over Georgia in the SEC Championship Game in 2018 with Tagovailoa sidelined by an injury, Hurts transferred to Oklahoma and finished as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in his final college season.
A second-round draft choice of the Eagles in 2020, Hurts became Philadelphia’s starting quarterback with four games left in his rookie season.
RELATED: NFL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
The Eagles are making their third consecutive playoff appearance with Hurts under center. Philadelphia opens the NFC postseason against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 7:15 p.m. CST Monday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. ABC and ESPN will televise the game.
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- The questions we have as Nick Saban retires, replacement search begins
- Why Kalen DeBoer could be a candidate for the Alabama job to replace Nick Saban (and why not)
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.