Jalen Hurts changes jersey number: Eagles quarterback leaves No.2 to become team’s new No.1

The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2021 season with a new No.1 quarterback, and he changed his jersey number to reflect that. Friday the Eagles announced new numbers for some of their new off-season additions with current players, and among them, quarterback Jalen Hurts changed his jersey number from No.2 to No.1.

This isn’t the first time Hurts has moved from No.2 to No.1. When he transferred from the University of Alabama to Oklahoma ahead of the 2019 season, he ditched his No.1 jersey. 2 for No.1. Hurts was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but haven’t been able to wear the No.1 since punter Cameron Johnston held the number. Johnston signed with the Houston Texans this offseason, so Hurts had the chance to jump on whatever jersey number he wanted.

Hurts played 15 games in his rookie season with four starts. He completed 52 percent of his passes for 1,061 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions while going 1-3 as a starter. He also ran for 354 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the only quarterback since 1950 to throw over 800 yards and run over 200 yards on his first three starts.

Former Eagles starter Carson Wentz was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in February – Wentz then changed his jersey to No.2, as Michael Pittman already had No.11 with the Colts – and the Eagles having traded From No. 6 overall pick to No. 12 pick, it has become somewhat official that Hurts will be Philly’s starting quarterback to kick off the 2021 NFL season. While the Eagles haven’t made any official statement about it, Hurts certainly did with his new jersey number.