Jalen Hurts is 24, Tom Brady is 45.
Hurts has averaged 55 rushing yards per start. Brady has averaged 51 rushing yards per season.
Hurts has played in one postseason game. Brady has played in 47.
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It would be hard to find two more polar opposite quarterbacks than Hurts and Brady. Yet as Hurts mentioned Monday night on the ESPN ManningCast with Peyton and Eli Manning, Brady is a guy Hurts has studied closely in his never-ending quest for knowledge and insight about playing quarterback in the NFL.
“I think he’s so great at what he does because he’s so consistent and he’s been able to maintain that for a long time, and I’ve mentioned that consistency could breed eliteness, and I think with him, that’s him,” Hurts said Wednesday.
“I have a lot of respect for him, what he’s been able to do and how he sees the game. For me, people make a big deal about my ability vs. whoever I’m watching. I like to watch football. I’m obsessed with this game. I’m obsessed with taking steps and just growing, and that knowledge comes from all types of players. That comes from quarterbacks, that comes from running backs, it comes from defensive-minded coaches, it comes from a lot of different individuals.
“I’m a person, I just want to soak it all in and kind of use what can help me.”
NFL
Nick Sirianni said that during the offseason he often shows Hurts tape of Philip Rivers with the Chargers and Andrew Luck of the Colts, since both ran similar offenses when Sirianni coached them.
That has to be valuable, but Hurts watches Brady not so much for reasons specific to the Eagles’ offense. He just watches him because he’s the GOAT.
“He’s one of the best to ever do it,” offensive coordinator Shane Steichen said. “So he's a good guy to study.”
It’s clear listening to Hurts speak that as well as he’s playing – and he’s an early MVP candidate and the Eagles are 4-0 – he believes he’s only scratching the surface of what’s possible right now.
Hurts is constantly looking for ways to improve when it comes not only to playing but offseason preparation, mental acuity, physical conditioning and every other aspect of being a quarterback that you can imagine.
And who better to study than a guy who’s reached 10 Super Bowls, won seven Super Bowls, started at least 16 games 18 times in the last 20 years, won three MVPs and never had a losing record?
Asked what about Brady impresses him the most, Hurts doesn’t hesitate to answer.
“It’s just the work,” he said. “It’s the work you put in. I value hard work, I value being disciplined, knowing what my job is and trying to go out there and do it on a high level on a consistent basis. Those are things that I value.”
“And this is going into my second year being a starting quarterback and Brady’s done it for a very long time – a very, very long time. He might have done it the same number of years as my age, 24 years. I don’t know how long he’s been doing it, but I have a lot of respect for him.”