“HURTS HAS ARRIVED: CHRIS CANTY DEMANDS NFL RESPECT AS HE CALLS OUT THE ENTIRE MEDIA FOR DOUBTING EAGLES QB”

Jalen Hurts didn’t just earn Chris Canty’s respect—he forced the entire sports world to finally take notice.

On a fiery episode of First Take, Chris Canty delivered one of the most passionate defenses of the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback ever heard on national television.

With the NFL world still buzzing from Hurts’ recent performances, Canty seized the moment to send a clear and thunderous message to doubters everywhere: “He’s him.”

Canty’s voice carried the kind of conviction that made the studio sit in silence.

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There was no dancing around numbers, no cautious optimism, and no middle ground. He was all-in on Hurts and dared anyone to disagree.

“What more do you need to see?” Canty challenged, his tone rising with every word.

“This man took a team to the Super Bowl, played nearly flawless football, and has only gotten better. The leadership, the poise, the production—he’s not just the future. He’s the right now.”

The debate had begun with a familiar tone—questions about whether Hurts belonged in the elite tier of quarterbacks, doubts about his passing ability, his consistency, and whether his success was more about the Eagles’ stacked roster than his own skill.

But Canty wasn’t having any of it.

“I’m tired of the goalposts being moved,” he said. “When Jalen wins, it’s because of his team. When others win, it’s because they’re great. Stop it. Hurts is a baller. Period.”

That moment struck a nerve across NFL circles. Clips of the rant went viral within hours, circulating through social media platforms, locker rooms, and even rival fanbases.

Former players chimed in. Coaches shared the video.

Even current Eagles teammates reposted Canty’s words with emojis of fire and respect.

It wasn’t just a TV segment—it was a cultural shift.

Hurts has always been under a microscope. From being benched at Alabama to his transfer to Oklahoma, from falling to the second round in the draft to hearing whispers about whether he was a “system QB,” the noise never stopped.

But through it all, Hurts kept his head down, focused, and got better.

Last season, he silenced many critics by leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl and putting on one of the most electric performances ever seen by a losing quarterback in the big game.

Jalen Hurts - Wikipedia

He ran. He passed. He carried. And he led.

But somehow, for some, it still wasn’t enough.

Which is why Canty’s explosion felt like a long-overdue reckoning.

“You don’t luck into this level of success,” he emphasized. “You don’t accidentally win 14 games, dominate your division, and become a leader that grown men rally behind. Jalen Hurts earned this.”

The debate quickly shifted from whether Hurts belonged in the top five to whether he should be in the top three.

Canty even compared Hurts’ mindset to some of the greats.

“He reminds me of Brady in how he prepares, in how nothing fazes him. He reminds me of Russell Wilson in his prime. He’s a winner, through and through.”

It wasn’t just hyperbole.

Hurts’ stats back it up. His team’s record backs it up. His leadership, praised by everyone from teammates to the front office, backs it up.

And now, thanks to Chris Canty, the narrative might finally be catching up.

The aftermath of the broadcast was telling.

Other panelists, initially skeptical, began to backpedal.

A chorus of voices across sports media echoed Canty’s praise, with many admitting they had been slow to recognize what was in front of them.

One analyst admitted on a rival show, “I’ve been sleeping on Jalen. I’ll own that. Chris woke me up.”

Canty’s defense of Hurts wasn’t just about one player.

Jalen Hurts | Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles, Biography, & Facts |  Britannica

It was about what we value in quarterbacks.

It was about the tendency to prop up traditional passers while downplaying dual-threat leaders.

It was about acknowledging growth, work ethic, and leadership—not just arm strength and pedigree.

As the NFL gears up for another season, there’s no doubt that Jalen Hurts enters with a massive target on his back.

But there’s also no doubt he has more believers than ever before.

Because on that stage, in front of millions, Chris Canty said what so many had been thinking but few dared to declare so boldly.

“He’s him.”

And the league heard it loud and clear.