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Jalen Hurts named to TIME 100 Most Influential People of 2025 with praise from Derek Jeter

Jalen Hurts named to TIME 100 Most Influential People of 2025 with praise from Derek Jeter

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 17, 2025, 02:11 IST

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Jalen Hurts, celebrated as one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People of 2025, earned high praise from Derek Jeter for his resilience and leadership. Hurts transformed a Super Bowl loss into triumph, leading the Eagles to victory in 2025 and securing the MVP title. Beyond football, his foundation significantly impacts youth education and wellness, demonstrating his commitment to uplifting communities.

Jalen Hurts named to TIME 100 Most Influential People of 2025 with praise from Derek Jeter

Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts just added another major win to his name and this time, it’s off the field. The 26-year-old Super Bowl MVP has been named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025, joining a global list of gamechangers, trailblazers, and icons. But the real moment? His tribute was written by baseball legend Derek Jeter, who praised Hurts not just for his performance, but for the way he carries himself in the face of setbacks.

Jalen Hurts earns spot on TIME 100 after bouncing back from a Super Bowl loss with a championship season

Hurts didn’t just win a Super Bowl, he rewrote his own narrative. After falling short in 2023, Hurts used that loss as fuel. He even kept a photo of himself walking off the field after that defeat as his phone lock screen, letting the pain push him forward. And in February 2025, he delivered, leading the Eagles to a 40–22 win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX and taking home the MVP title.

That kind of bounce-back moment was more than football. It was leadership in real time, the type that earns you a spot on TIME's most influential list.

Derek Jeter’s TIME tribute says Hurts never let failure define him and always asked how to improve

Jeter’s essay wasn’t just a standard sports tribute. It was a personal reflection, one icon recognizing another. He highlighted Hurts’ 2018 benching in the National Championship as a moment that could’ve broken most athletes. But Hurts? He stayed locked in, transferred schools, rebuilt, and rose.
“Jalen didn’t let a Super Bowl defeat in 2023 shake his confidence,” Jeter wrote.
“This past February, Jalen found himself on the Super Bowl stage again. This time he led Philadelphia to a convincing victory… We connected shortly after, and the only thing he asked about was insight on going back and winning again.”
It wasn’t about basking in the win, it was about chasing the next challenge.

Beyond football, Jalen Hurts is also changing lives through his foundation and community work

While the spotlight often follows his game-day highlights, Hurts has also become a steady presence off the field. In 2024, he launched the Jalen Hurts Foundation, focused on education and wellness for underserved youth. One of its major projects, “Keep It Cool,” donated air conditioning units to Philadelphia public schools, a literal lifesaver during summer months.
For TIME, impact means more than fame. It’s about influence and Hurts is clearly using his platform to uplift others.
Also read - Inside Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce’s 1587 Prime: A luxury steakhouse with football field floors and VIP entrances

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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