This week, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scripted history by becoming the highest-paid athlete in NFL. It was a record-breaking deal that netted him a whopping $255 million contract at the age of 24. As expected, HOFer Shannon Sharpe heaped praise on the youngster with his iconic “black man” reference.
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Super Bowl LVII holds much significance in history books because it was the first championship game played between two black quarterbacks. Above all, it was an absolute thriller showcased by Patrick Mahomes and his team going head-to-head against Jalen Hurts. Meanwhile, the recent contract extension happens to be a great milestone for his future aspirations in the league.
Shannon Sharpe explains the importance of this deal
The Oklahoma product was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft. Ever since he entered the arena, Hurts proved to be a great asset for the team, and the management elevated him to the starting job after Carson Wentz’s tenure in the franchise. His first full season as a starter came in 2021, where he racked up 16 touchdowns for 3,144 passing yards and nine interceptions.
He also rushed for 784 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a result, he became a dual-threat prospect for the side. This contract extension will enable him to stretch his arms more freely and take his chances.
“It’s good to see a Black man whether for a week or a month be the highest-paid player in the NFL.”
— @ShannonSharpe on Jalen Hurts signing a 5yr/$255M extension pic.twitter.com/IQY21CqaZI
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) April 18, 2023
Meanwhile, Hall of Fame Tight End Shannon Sharpe addressed this achievement in the recent episode of UNDISPUTED. He called it an incredible milestone. “A black man is a highest-paid player in the NFL, but I’m old enough to remember, I remember Marlin Briscoe, who was the first black man to start a professional game and played for my Broncos in 1968,” Sharpe said on the show.
“We just had something great happen in the Super Bowl. Two Blacks started: Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes. We’ve had black quarterbacks win the Super Bowl and win Super Bowl MVP.” he added.
Jalen Hurts contract details
The mastermind behind this deal is Nicole Lynn, who serves as the president of football for Klutch Sports Group. She has several accolades in her portfolio, including the milestone of being the first female to join PlayersRep.
According to multiple reports, Hurts will earn $179.3 million in guaranteed money, and the rest comes as part of the incentives. He will make somewhere around $51 million next year.
“The thing with Jalen that I’m so optimistic about is he’s just got this incredible – I’m not telling you anything you don’t know here, but seeing him virtually every day, he’s got an incredible passion for being phenomenal,” Eagles CEO Jeffrey Lurie said, per npr.org. It will be interesting to see whether he succeeds in living up to the expectations.
