Super Bowl Positional Preview: Quarterback

Despite the majority of MVP talks being centered around Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, two different quarterbacks find themselves in Sunday’s big game.

Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs will match up in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years. Both players are undeniably great but have both faced plenty of criticism throughout the season. Interestingly enough, they are the last two standing.

With that being said, let’s take a look at how both players line up for Sunday and how they got to this year’s Super Bowl.

Patrick Mahomes

A victory on Sunday can solidify Mahomes into the conversation of being the greatest quarterback of all time. At just 29 years old, Mahomes has two MVPs and three Super Bowl rings. He also has a ridiculous 89-23 record in his career.

However, in this season specifically, Mahomes’ touchdowns and passing yards are either a career-low or tied for it. Don’t let that fool you, as he’s still only lost one game since Christmas Day 2023.

Simply put, Patrick Mahomes is a winner. Even if his numbers are down compared to years past, the Chiefs are still winning. Regarding playoff football, Mahomes hasn’t lost since the AFC Championship game in 2022.

Mahomes threw 182 touchdowns and three touchdowns against the Eagles during the 2023 Super Bowl. While these stats might not seem overwhelming, the numbers earned him Super Bowl MVP and, more importantly, a win.

It almost feels impossible for Mahomes and the Chiefs to lose a playoff game at this point because it hasn’t happened in so long. Big situations create pressure, but Mahomes is used to the big moment.

His heart beats slower in games like these. A Super Bowl is just another day in the life of the Chiefs quarterback. No matter how it looks, Patrick Mahomes always finds a path to victory—end of story.

Jalen Hurts

While Mahomes has proven to be a winner and someone who you can trust to win the big game, Jalen Hurts is searching for his first championship. The 2024-25 season has been up-and-down for Hurts, but he is currently trending in the right direction.

In the beginning of the year, Hurts had issues turning the ball over. In Philadelphia’s 2-2 start, Hurts had five fumbles and four interceptions. Since then, Hurts has played much cleaner, only throwing one interception and fumbling five times in a much larger sample.

As long as Jalen Hurts limits turnovers on Sunday, the Eagles will compete with the juggernaut that is Kansas City. The quarterback, after winning the NFC Championship, talked about how he feels looser and not on as much of a leash.

Hurt’s confidence is key and it’s high right now. All things considered he did have a great season. 32 total touchdowns and a career low in interceptions as a starter has Hurts playing at a level we last saw in 2023 when he was runner-up for MVP.

In the 2023 Super Bowl, Hurts actually played extremely well. He threw for over 300 yards and ran for another 70. His costly fumble is what ruined an otherwise great game.

The one thing about Jalen Hurts is that as a dual-threat quarterback, we often see him take a step back in the passing game and focus on rushing. The Eagles do have a top tier offensive line and a superstar running back so it’s understandable.

However, Hurts will need to produce offense with his arm as well if the Eagles are to win. Hurts has only eclipsed 200 passing yards in a game twice since Nov. 22. It’s hard to imagine Philadelphia in a comfortable position if Hurts is lacking through the air, considering who their opponent is.

Ultimately, I don’t think either quarterback has gotten enough credit this year for their team’s success. You have to be playing some type of well to reach the Super Bowl. Both Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes have a chance to reach new highs.

For Mahomes, it's a chance to solidify a dynasty and have his name thrown into the GOAT conversation. For Hurts, a chance at revenge and to prove doubters wrong.

The Super Bowl can bring the best out of star players, and fans can only hope to see these quarterbacks shine their brightest on Sunday.

Alex Harkins is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email arh6278@psu.edu.