Somehow the world’s standard does not apply to players like Jalen Hurts. The rules are somehow bent to fit the narrative of his biggest critics. In fact, the most predictable quote and reply to anything regarding Jalen Hurts just so happens to be that “wins are a team stat.”
This argument gets overused and has become a derogatory way of discussing Jalen Hurts. It also suggests that every QB on a good roster would have the same success.
Spoiler alert: they don’t.
Are wins a team statistic? Of course, every team sport wins and loses as a team, but continued winning comes from identifying players who consistently elevate the team around them.
The recent quarterback rankings from PFF and ESPN have Jalen Hurts outside their top 12. That just seems, and is, wrong.
Winners
The United States is currently hosting the FIFA World Cup and has been privileged to see some of the world’s greatest athletes in stadiums across the country.
One of the most exciting athletes to play for Argentina has been Lionel Messi. Their team wins a lot of games in soccer but if you take Messi off, are they making a run towards winning back-to-back World Cups? I know this is an exaggerated example, as he is likely the best player in his sport to have ever played. Nonetheless, Messi needed teammates. He needed defenders, midfielders, and a goalkeeper. But nobody says “Messi’s trophies don’t matter because soccer is a team sport.” Why? Because everyone understands that certain players elevate the entire team.
Many players on the Chicago Bulls have rings because of Michael Jordan’s greatness; he also had Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, etc., during most of those years.
Tom Brady, Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman, and Joe Montana had great defenses and HOF players around them on offense, but when it is stated that they have 7, 4, and 3 rings, respectively, it is never followed by “it’s a team sport.”
They all had help, and many of the quarterbacks mentioned had HOF receivers who became synonymous with them.
Montana had Jerry Rice, so did Steve Young; Bradshaw had John Stallworth and Lynn Swann; Aikman had Michael Irvin; Peyton had Marvin Harrison; Kurt Warner had Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, and Tory Holt, yet all of these QBs earned their way into the Pro Football HOF. Why? Because of sustained success and observers’ ability to identify the engines of that success.
Origins of Success
Does having the strongest arms coming out of college guarantee success in the NFL? No.
Lamar Jackson, Jay Cutler, JaMarcus Russell, and Zach Wilson have a combined zero Super Bowl wins, despite being hailed as some of the most talented of their draft class.
Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, Jameis Winston, Andrew Luck, Cam Newton, Sam Bradford, Michael Vick, Tim Couch, and Vinny Testaverde were all number one overall picks who have never won a Super Bowl.
In short, the historical takeaway is that having the physical pedigree doesn’t guarantee success.
Defensive Rankings for SB winners:
Big Ben won 2 Super Bowls; his defenses were ranked 3rd and 1st, respectively, in fewest points allowed in both years.
Aaron Rodgers: 1 SB, def ranked 2nd.
When Brett Favre won his only SB, the Packers defense allowed the fewest pts (210) in the entire NFL.
One of the most beloved Eagles in history, Nick Foles, who was afforded the opportunity to play in the postseason due to Carson Wentz’s regular-season success, won a Super Bowl; the Eagles’ defense was ranked 4th.
Even the great Tom Brady: 7 Super Bowl rings; his defenses ranked 6th, 1st, 2nd (tied), 8th, 1st, 7th, and 8th.
See a pattern emerging here?
Having an efficient offense and a good defense matters to everyone. But it doesn’t diminish their accomplishments by their QB.
Winning is a skill.
Great QBs create great teams
The greatest players don’t do everything themselves; they raise everyone around them and turn teams into champions.
That’s why winning matters. Not because the QB should get the sole credit for every win, but because the best QBs are usually the reason their teams are even in position to win.
So when someone says “Herbert is better” or “Allen is better,” that can be debated based on talent, stats, arm strength, etc. But saying “Hurts’ Super Bowl ring doesn’t matter because wins are a team stat” is a weak argument.
Big games, Big Moments
Jalen Hurts has stepped up when the moments call for them; others in the NFL without a Championship have not.
Justin Herbert threw 4 interceptions in his lone playoff game (a loss) in 2025; isn’t that why they lost?
Lamar Jackson has 7 interceptions in 10 postseason games, and Jalen Hurts has 3 in 10 postseason games. Does protecting the ball not play a factor?
The Hurts Factor
Jalen Hurts has proven he can turn third-down conversions into first downs; he changes protection calls, reads defenses, makes teammates better, takes control of the game in pressure moments, delivers when everything is on the line, and, yes, wins!
The fact is, Jalen Hurts has done it better than most when it matters the most, and that matters.
Final Thoughts
The Tom Brady’s Patriots weren’t winning because “the team” was better than everyone else if he was not on the roster. When Peyton Manning quarterbacked the Colts and Broncos, he wasn’t just along for the ride; he was the difference-maker. That is why Denver brought him in.
The QB is the player who has the most power to turn a good roster into a championship roster.
Jalen Hurts separates himself because when the lights are brightest and the pressure is highest, he has shown the rare ability to play his best football.
Great players are not just measured by their stats in comfortable moments; they are defined by how they respond when the season is on the line. Jalen Hurts has proven he can handle that stage with poise, toughness, leadership, and execution. He doesn’t just play quarterback; he elevates the confidence and performance of everyone around him. That ability to deliver under the highest pressure is what separates good quarterbacks from true winners.
As always, thank you for reading!
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Keywords
Jalen Hurts,
NFL quarterback rankings,
Philadelphia Eagles,
elite quarterbacks