Super Bowl Victory, Unforgotten Loss

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was anything but cheerful during his team’s dominant 40-6 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s Super Bowl. Despite the game being well in hand and his first Lombardi Trophy nearly secured, Hurts was seen pouting on the sideline in newly released footage from the NFL. His serious demeanor raised questions, especially with the Eagles leading by such a large margin late in the game.

In the video, Hurts’ teammate, tight end Grant Calcaterra, teased the quarterback, saying, "You can crack a smile, too." But Hurts, who was still processing the emotions of the previous Super Bowl, wasn’t ready to let go of his focus. Reflecting on last year’s devastating 38-35 loss to the Chiefs, Hurts responded, "I can't lie to you, bro. The last one changed my soul, man. This ain't ever over until the fat lady sings."

That loss clearly motivated Hurts, shaping much of his determination going into this Super Bowl. He has openly discussed how the defeat in 2023 left a lasting impression on him. In fact, months after that game, Hurts revealed that the wallpaper on his phone was an image of him walking off the field, disappointed, with confetti falling around him in Chiefs colors. This image, a painful reminder of what he lost, became a symbol of his resolve to keep pushing forward.

Even after winning the Super Bowl this year, Hurts hasn’t changed the wallpaper. "I guess people anticipate me to change it, but it’s just a wallpaper. It’s a humble reminder for me," he said in an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon earlier this week. “It’s gonna remain. There’s no urgency to change it.”

Hurts’ story underscores how deeply the past loss continues to fuel him, even in the face of victory. That single image on his phone remains a constant reminder of the journey that brought him here  —and a testament to his commitment to never forget the lessons learned from his previous defeat.