Leadership can be displayed on or off of the field as a professional athlete. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is doing both.
Following the Eagles' big 20-16 Week 17 over the Washington Football Team on Sunday, Hurts breaks down the team in the locker room, shouting out safety Rodney McLeod for has game-clinching interception, which fires up the entire team.
"We're tough. We're nasty. We're physical. That's who we are."
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 3, 2022
Hear what Coach Sirianni had to say in the locker room following the victory over Washington!@novacare | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/GKfIM9N6FN
Speaking to the media following this locker room speech, Hurts publicly praised McLeod, as well.
McLeod, 31, is now in his sixth season as an Eagle and continues to be a consistent backbone and leader of the defense himself. But when called underrated on the 94WIP Instagram, some fans took exception. McLeod saw the comments and responded.
The Eagles did not know it at the time, but just hours after that locker room video their playoff berth would be clinched thanks to a Green Bay Packers win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Hurts, 23, is in just his second NFL season and his first as a full-time starting quarterback, but after a 2-5 start he has led the Eagles to a 9-7 record and a playoff berth under first year head coach Nick Sirianni.
