NEED TO KNOW
- Jalen Hurts will publish his debut children’s book, Better Than a Touchdown, in 2026
- The kids book features illustrations by Nenka Myers and is forthcoming from Flamingo Books
- The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and Super Bowl 2025 MVP says that he hopes the book will help share wisdom he’s learned with a new generation
Jalen Hurts is now an author!
On June 23, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, 26, announced that he will publish his debut children’s book, Better Than a Touchdown, through Flamingo Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Featuring illustrations by Nenka Myers, the book will arrive in spring 2026.
Better Than a Touchdown centers on a boy, also named Jalen, with big dreams of joining his school football team. When he learns that the team has been cut, however, Jalen and his friends must figure out a way to save it.
“From the moment I met Jalen, it was clear he would pour his heart and soul into this book — and he has done that and more,” Margaret Anastas, vice president and Publisher of Flamingo Books, said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
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“Working with him has been an absolute privilege, and I am so excited for Jalen’s youngest fans to read his wonderful, inspiring book.”
In addition to his work as a writer and athlete, the Super Bowl 2025 MVP is also the founder of The Jalen Hurts Foundation. The organization works to provide resources, support groups and positive role models to youth in the Philadelphia community and beyond.
His debut book pays tribute to the impactful advice he’s been given — and how listening to others can help young readers, too.
“Some of the most valuable lessons I’ve brought into my adult life were passed down to me during childhood, like the importance of doing something bigger than yourself,” Hurts says. “I’m excited to share some of that wisdom with a new generation of kids in Better Than a Touchdown.”
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“I hope this book strikes a chord of resilience, encourages self-belief and resonates with not only kids, but also teachers, mentors and parents!”
Better Than a Touchdown will be published on March 10, 2026 and is now available for preorder, wherever books are sold.
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