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Fresh off his Super Bowl win, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has been named the city's Citizen of the Year.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro presented Hurts with the Philadelphia Citizen of the Year award on Tuesday (February 25), per the Inquirer.
Hurts, who led his team to a Super Bowl win against the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this month, was recognized for his work off the field, including mentoring children, supporting the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and donating to Philadelphia public schools.
“This guy is a champion on the field, but we are recognizing him tonight … because he gives a damn about us and he recognizes his role as a citizen here in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania," Shapiro said Tuesday.
During his acceptance speech, Hurts said the award holds "special significance."
“As I sit here in this room, I see a common theme,” the star quarterback said. “I’ve received a ton of awards. God’s blessed me with so much in my life. I must say, this award holds a special significance for me, knowing everything that we have in common in this room. Everyone has a certain level of drive, a certain level of passion, a will ... about what they do. I think that’s a quality that oozes throughout the city of Philadelphia—tough and gritty people that don’t take ‘no’ for an answer."
"The city of Philadelphia has been great to me. I know I’ve given it my heart and my soul daily, and it means the world to have all these different avenues. … This holds a special place in my heart, and the pursuit [of] what we’re doing, everyone in this room, it’s more than just on the field but off the field. That pursuit to uplift those around us and create those opportunities continues," he added.
Tuesday's ceremony also named the city's educator of the year, disrupter of the year, youth citizen of the year, and more.
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