The Philadelphia Eagles claimed their second Super Bowl title in franchise history in dominant fashion, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs with a score of 40-22. Led by Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who delivered a stellar performance on the game’s biggest stage, the Eagles controlled the game from start to finish, leaving no room for a Chiefs comeback. Jalen Hurts silenced doubters and cemented his legacy, claiming his first ring and a Super Bowl MVP. Super Bowl 59 ended not with just a championship, but a testament to relentless perseverance, making this Eagles victory a historic statement.
COMPETITION BREEDS EXCELLENCE
Beyond the game itself, Super Bowl 59 marks the second time in NFL history that two Black quarterbacks faced off for the Lombardi Trophy. The first time was just two years ago, in Super Bowl 57, where Jalen Hurts and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes met in Arizona for their first matchup. “It’s surprising that it took this long for it to happen. But seeing these two guys go at it again – it’s inspiring,” said senior information system major, Micheal Chappell. Their first matchup ended with the Chiefs’ nail-biting 38-35 win over the Eagles, with Patrick Mahomes at the time winning his second Super Bowl MVP. Ever since this matchup, both franchises had anticipated the chance of a rematch, as both teams this season had a combined record of 34-5 coming into their rematch. However, this time the Eagles would leave no doubt. The Eagles by halftime led the game 24-0, having almost as many points as Patrick Mahomes did passing yards in the first half with a stat line of 6 of 14 for 33 yards. The Chiefs were able to take away running back Saquan Barkley’s production, but in selling out against Barkley, Jalen Hurts had opportunities to make plays. With a stat line of 221 passing yards, 72 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception, he led the team in touchdowns and rushing yards. The game also featured one of the most electrifying moments when rookie cornerback Cooper Dejean snagged his first interception of the season with a pick-six in the Super Bowl. “That was his first pick all season too, and it was a pick-six in the Super Bowl. That was some crazy stuff,” said sophomore biology major Justin Berryhill. It marked the second time in 22 years a white cornerback recorded an interception. With the score at one point being 40-6, it was clear the Eagles were playing to prove a point.
‘KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING’
With a season defined by adversity and resilience, with at one point critics calling for Jalen Hurts to be benched and head coach Nick Sirianni to be fired, Jalen Hurts’ career to this point has been defined by resilience. At Alabama, he was benched in the national championship game in favor of Tua Tagovailoa. Hurts transferred to Oklahoma, where he put up Heisman-caliber numbers and proved he could be a leader. Despite his collegiate success, he was overlooked in the 2020 NFL Draft, falling to the second round where he would begin his NFL career as backup to Eagles then-quarterback Carson Wentz. He also faced skepticism from critics on his ability to throw the ball and read defenses. Rather than letting these setbacks define his career, Hurts worked to earn the starting job and helped transform the Eagles into a perennial contender.
In just his fifth NFL season, Hurts has already led his team to two NFC Championship appearances, two Super Bowls, and his first Lombardi Trophy. His ability to overcome adversity made him popular with Langston students who watched the Super Bowl, and no quote demonstrates his character better than his own: “I had a purpose before anyone had an opinion.” Senior computer science major Josiah Grayson echoed his statement, saying “Jalen Hurts has just been consistently improving and getting better throughout his pro career. He does what’s asked of him, and he’s capable of doing that really well. That’s the kind of player who proves setbacks don’t define you. If anything, they make you stronger.”
Joshua Heck
Staff Writer
Joshua Heck is a junior broadcast journalism and computer science major
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