Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts has silenced his doubters once again. Leading the “Birds” to a commanding 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, he secured his first Lombardi Trophy and won Super Bowl MVP.
Hurts’ success has reignited discussions about one of his college coaches, Lincoln Riley, and whether he deserves the title of the best quarterback coach in college football.
Lincoln Riley Never Lost Hope on Jalen Hurts
Lincoln Riley has a reputation for developing top-tier quarterbacks. His track record speaks for itself—Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Caleb Williams were all Heisman Trophy winners under his guidance and eventually were drafted first overall in their respective NFL Drafts.
But the quarterback who has achieved the most success at the professional level so far wasn’t a Heisman winner or even a first-rounder.
Hurts, a second-round pick in 2020, had a college career full of adversity. After being benched in the National Championship game while at Alabama, he transferred to Oklahoma for his final season.
Under Riley’s system, Hurts thrived, showing improved passing ability while maintaining his dynamic rushing threat. Many NFL teams doubted whether his skill set would translate to the pros, but Riley had no such concerns.
“The question from every team was how do you project this guy,” Riley recalled. “I told them he’s gonna be a really good player. He’s got a pro mentality.”
Riley’s belief in Hurts has now been fully validated, with Hurts standing at the pinnacle of the sport as a Super Bowl champion and the game’s MVP.
This eye for excellence and never losing hope in his players is enough to make anyone agree that Lincoln Riley is one of the best college coaches right now.
Riley’s Mixed Legacy at USC
While Riley’s quarterback development has been unquestionable, his recent tenure at USC has sparked controversy. His handling of the Trojans’ quarterback situation in the 2023 season left fans frustrated.
His decision to bench Miller Moss in favor of Jayden Maiava backfired, as USC stumbled to a disappointing 7-6 record. Moss later entered the transfer portal, and Riley faced heavy criticism for his team management.
However, Riley’s reputation as a quarterback guru still holds weight. Five-star recruit Husan Longstreet committed to USC, citing Riley’s ability to develop elite quarterbacks.
“He has five quarterbacks starting in the NFL right now and four that won the Heisman,” Longstreet said. “It’s hard to turn down something special like that.”
RELATED: ‘Lincoln Riley Has Been a Bust at USC’ — Paul Finebaum Issues Blunt Assessment of Trojans Coach
Despite early struggles at USC, Riley’s work with Hurts remains a shining example of his coaching prowess. While Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has helped Hurts flourish in the NFL, it was Riley who unlocked his full potential in college.
With such star-studded names under his wing, Riley has cemented his position as the best quarterback coach in college football.
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