If you look closely at Jalen Hurts during a post-game presser, you aren't just seeing a dual-threat quarterback with a stoic expression. You’re seeing a man who has basically built his entire psyche around one specific sentence from an ancient text. It’s not just a caption for his Instagram photos. It’s the "why" behind the most confusing chapter of his life—the benching at Alabama that would have broken almost anyone else.
The verse is John 13:7.
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Jesus tells Peter: "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
For most, that’s a nice sentiment for a greeting card. For Hurts, it’s a survival mechanism. He has been shouting this verse (sometimes literally, sometimes through his actions) since 2018. If you want to understand why the Philadelphia Eagles’ leader doesn’t blink when he’s down by ten in the fourth quarter, you have to look at how this scripture saved his career.
The Night Everything Changed in Atlanta
Honestly, it’s hard to talk about Jalen Hurts John 13 7 without going back to that 2018 National Championship game. You remember it. Alabama is down. Nick Saban makes the coldest move in college football history and pulls Hurts for a freshman named Tua Tagovailoa.
Tua wins the game. Jalen becomes a backup.
Most kids in that position would’ve hit the transfer portal before the confetti finished falling. Instead, Hurts stayed. He sat on the bench for a year. He didn't complain. On September 16, 2018, while he was still the "other guy" in Tuscaloosa, he tweeted the verse: "Jesus replied, 'You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand' – John 13:7. Just let God work his magic."
That "magic" wasn't an immediate starting job. It was a slow burn.
He eventually came off the bench in the SEC Championship later that year to lead a comeback win against Georgia. It was poetic. It was the "later" Jesus was talking about. But the lesson didn't stop in college.
Why John 13:7 Is More Than a Quote
In the context of the Bible, Jesus says these words while washing his disciples' feet. Peter is confused. He thinks it’s beneath a leader to do something so lowly. Jesus basically tells him to pipe down because the "big picture" isn't visible yet.
Hurts has applied this to every "lowly" moment he's faced:
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- Being benched at Alabama.
- Being questioned as a second-round pick that many "experts" hated.
- Losing a heartbreaking Super Bowl LVII despite playing nearly perfect football.
He has a 24-hour rule for both wins and losses. He treats them both as parts of a sequence he doesn't fully control. When people ask him about his resilience, he often points back to this idea of "delayed understanding." It’s a mindset that rejects the "now" for the sake of the "later."
You’ve probably seen the rumors about his tattoos, too. While he has several pieces of ink—including a prominent "Faith" tattoo in Hebrew on his forearm—the message of John 13:7 is the one he carries verbally. He’s mentioned it in interviews with CBS Sports, GQ, and countless locker room huddles.
The Breakdown of the Philosophy
- Patience over Passion: He doesn't react to the immediate sting of failure.
- Trust over Sight: He believes the "plan" is better than his own vision.
- Service over Status: Much like the foot-washing context of the verse, Hurts focuses on his role within the team rather than his personal accolades.
What Fans Get Wrong About His Faith
There’s a misconception that Jalen thinks God is "helping him win football games." That’s not it at all.
When you hear him talk about Jalen Hurts John 13 7, he isn't saying he has a divine cheat code for a touchdown. He’s saying the struggle is the point. He’s said before that God put obstacles in his path because He wanted him to feel the pain. That's a heavy way to look at a game, but it explains his "robot-like" composure. If the pain is part of the plan, you don't fight the pain. You just walk through it.
He told Sports Spectrum that he tries to keep God at the center because "He's greater than the highs and the lows."
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Think about that for a second. In a city like Philly, where the fans will love you one minute and boo your car in the driveway the next, having an anchor that isn't tied to a scoreboard is a massive competitive advantage. It keeps him from getting "the bends" when the pressure changes.
How to Apply the Jalen Hurts Mindset
You don't have to be a starting NFL quarterback to use this. The "John 13:7 logic" is basically a masterclass in emotional intelligence.
- Stop Demanding Clarity: Sometimes you’re in the middle of a "benching" in your own life—a job loss, a breakup, a failed project. The Jalen approach is to accept that you won't understand why right now.
- Focus on the Routine: Hurts is obsessed with his daily routine. He dives into scripture and film with the same intensity. If you don't know the "why," focus on the "how."
- The 24-Hour Rule: Give yourself one day to feel the emotion. Then, it's back to work. The "later" won't happen if you're stuck in the "yesterday."
Actionable Next Steps
If you're looking to build that same kind of resilience, start by identifying your own "anchor." For Hurts, it's a specific verse. For you, it might be a core value or a long-term goal.
Next time you hit a wall, don't ask "Why is this happening?" Instead, try saying, "I don't understand this yet, but I will later." It shifts your brain from a victim mindset to a growth mindset. Watch how Hurts handles his next post-game interview after a tough loss. You’ll see a man who is already looking for the "later" while everyone else is obsessed with the "now."