Jalen Hurts wins Super Bowl MVP, DeVonta Smith makes Tide history

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) celebrates with wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) after throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver A.J. Brown during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Jalen Hurts has often been judged by his failings more than his successes over the course of his career. Getting benched at halftime of a college football championship game. Being forced to transfer from Alabama to Oklahoma just to be able to regain a starting job. Getting drafted in the second round to be a backup and then having his passing prowess questioned as he quickly became a starter. All those doubts helped fuel Hurts along the way and now he will be forever known as a Super Bowl MVP.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) hugs his partner Bryonna Burrows after the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)

Jalen Hurts: ‘I couldn’t do any of these things without the guys around me’

Hurts is forever a Super Bowl winner now, but he lauded Philadelphia’s defense in his on-field interview with Fox.

“Defense wins championships,” Hurts said.

He also deflected credit to all his teammates: “I couldn’t do any of these things without the guys around me.”

DeVonta Smith gives Alabama its first Super Bowl points ever

Alabama gets on the Super Bowl scoreboard for the first ever.

The 46-yard touchdown catch by DeVonta Smith marked the first time a player who ended his college career at Alabama scored a point in a Super Bowl. While former Crimson Tide QBs Bart Starr and Ken Stabler threw TD passes in a Super Bowl, they don’t get credit for scoring the points.

There are 144 colleges who have had a player score in a Super Bowl before the 12-time AP champion Alabama joined the list.

(Courtesy: The Associated Press)