Jalen Hurts: 'The work comes first' (2024)

It's the middle of April. Training Camp doesn't start for another three months. The season opener in Brazil is 140 days away.

But Jalen Hurts, fresh off of his third straight playoff appearance and back-to-back Pro Bowl selections, knows that in order to get wins in the regular season the foundation has to be built now.

"I think the actionable things on the field are so important because that's where you develop that chemistry," Hurts said on Wednesday, meeting the media for the first time since the end of the season. "We have a ton of opportunity in front of us, but I think the number one, most important thing is the mentality that people have in the building. You want to go get people that have a sense of culture about themselves, have a mentality about themselves, and I think that's exactly what we're doing."

Hurts is entering his fourth season as a starter. At the same time, he's still only 25 years old and won't turn 26 until August. He understands that he has plenty to learn and relishes that challenge, especially with several new coaches on the offensive side of the ball including Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore.

"I'm excited to work with him. I know they (Moore and the staff) have a history of doing really good things," Hurts said. "I'm just all ears. I'm a sponge. I think there's some beauty in that.

"I've always had a desire for growth and development. I think that's allowed me to have these opportunities I have now, being here at this place, and just being able to continue and grow over the years of my career."

As Hurts arrived for the start of the offseason program on Monday, honestly, he's been around the facility for the entire offseason; Hurts was aware of several changes in the locker room. Change is a constant in the NFL, but the losses are more magnified in that two franchise legends in Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce retired. Hurts knows there is no replacing those two pillars. But he's eager to see other players from programs like Alabama and Georgia and Oklahoma, "places rich in mentality and culture and winning," take advantage of the opportunity.

"I think we got special guys here. I think we're going to get guys that have that sense of culture and mentality about themselves and others truly hungry to go out there and do great things," he said. "That's what it's all about. You can get a group of like-minded men together chasing the same goals and chasing the same things and ultimately putting the work in and special things will happen."

But, as Hurts notes, "the work comes first."

"I have a standard I want to play to and I want to play to that all the time," Hurts said. "Everybody's eager. Everybody's working and just trying to build it."