A sublime performance on the field, at best, might earn you the Pete Rozelle Trophy at the Super Bowl, but only great humanitarian achievements would earn you the Philadelphia Citizen of the Year Award. At the event hosted by The Philadelphia Citizen, Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback, Jalen Hurts, proved to the world that these two distinct awards aren’t mutually exclusive, as he was honored with the Philadelphia Citizen of the Year Award.
Alongside nine other Philadelphians, the Super Bowl LIX MVP was recognized for his deeds of selflessness and positive impact in the city. Hurts, joined by his fiancé, Bry Burrows, was presented the award by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
“Jalen and Bry understand the importance of taking young athletes, young individuals in our communities and giving them strong mentors so they continue to walk a path that is true and just. This guy is a champion on the field, but we are recognizing him tonight because he gives a damn about us and he recognizes his role as a citizen here in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania” Shapiro said.
The Eagles QB focuses on what matters
The 26-year old, among other commitments and donations, was recognised for his impacts through the Jalen Hurts Foundation.
In April, Hurts donated $200,000 to install air conditioning units in ten Philadelphia schools as a part of his Keep it Cool Initiative, aimed at addressing the challenges public school students faced during extreme heat conditions. He soon topped that with his donation of $5,000 for every touchdown he scored in the 2024-2025 season to the remaining schools without air conditioners. In all, the quarterback ended the season with 42 touchdowns, including the playoffs.
Beyond his donations, Hurts, in partnership with Lincoln Financial Group, mentors and educates kids on financial literacy. He also has shown strong commitment to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and its patients.
Revelling in the afterglow of his latest feat, Jalen Hurts expressed his gratitude and was vocal about how significant the award was to him, placing it in a class of its own.
“I’ve received a ton of awards. God’s blessed me with so much in my life. I must say, this award holds a special significance for me, knowing everything that we have in common in this room,” Hurts said.
“Everyone has a certain level of drive, a certain level of passion, a will about what they do. I think that’s a quality that oozes throughout the city of Philadelphia – tough and gritty people that don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.“
He added:
“The city of Philadelphia has been great to me. I know I’ve given it my heart and my soul daily, and it means the world to have all these different avenues. This holds a special place in my heart, and the pursuit of what we’re doing, everyone in this room, it’s more than just on the field but off the field. What I strive to do is just serve, mentor, progress, give people opportunities that they don’t even know that they have. That pursuit to uplift those around us and create those opportunities continues.”
After helping the Philadelphia Eagles to their 40-22 NFL Championship victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LIX, Jalen Hurts continues to score touchdowns off the pitch with the latest addition of a non-football award to his trophy cabinet. Through Hurts, kids in Philadelphia and all around the world get to see that beyond sporting greatness, they can achieve so much more.
Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images
