Ex-Eagles QB Randall Cunningham’s special message for Jalen Hurts after he won the Super Bowl revealed!

Randall Cunningham was one of the first dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL, who spent the bulk of his career playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ex-Eagles QB Randall Cunningham’s special message for Jalen Hurts after he won the Super Bowl revealed!

Jalen Hurts and Randall Cunningham (Image Credits: L-via IMAGO, R-via Sports Illustrated)

The Philadelphia Eagles were considered a cursed franchise for decades. The reason? For 84 years, the team failed to win a Super Bowl. Despite two appearances, first in 1981 and then in 2005, the Eagles were a franchise synonymous with disappointment, as they never had the privilege to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

It was not until 2018 that the city of brotherly love finally beat the curse and won its first Super Bowl. Since then, Philadelphia has been on a roll, making it to two more championship games and winning the 2024-25 Super Bowl.

The team’s recent success has immortalized quarterback Jalen Hurts in franchise history. Philly has had immense talent at quarterback position over the years, but it becomes convenient to forget their contributions, given the team’s winning streak in the recent past.

One such quarterback is Randall Cunningham. Picked 37th overall by the Eagles in 1985, Cunningham was the quarterback in Philadelphia for 11 seasons. He spent his prime in Philly, and led the team to seven postseason appearances, but destiny was not in his favor as he was able to win just two NFC Wild Card games, and never took the Eagles past the first round.

24 years after his retirement, he witnessed Jalen Hurts lead the Eagles to their second Super Bowl win. His time in Philadelphia ended on a sour note, with some fans cheering his departure.

In a recent interview with The Athletic, Cunningham shared how proud he was of the young quarterback. “What I didn’t fulfill, I’m fulfilling through you,” was the first text that Cunningham sent to Hurts immediately after Super Bowl LIX.

He makes it a point to attend Eagles’ playoff games, sometimes in disguise, wearing a cap, hoodie, or sunglasses, hoping to mask his identity. Cunningham witnessed Hurts and Co. thrash the Chiefs in their quest for a three-peat. He deemed the game as being “Greatest game he has been to.”

Randall Cunningham was one of the first dual-threat quarterbacks to play in the NFL

This comparison is not unjustified. Both quarterbacks had more to offer than just their throwing capabilities, as Randall Cunningham was one of the earliest quarterbacks to bring the dual-threat build into the league.

The man ranks 5th all-time in terms of rushing yards by a quarterback with 4,928 over 161 games. To give fans an idea of how far the NFL has evolved since those days, Cunningham was criticized for being too athletic a player.

Jalen Hurts and Randall Cunningham
Jalen Hurts and Randall Cunningham (Image via Philadelphia Eagles)

His build was considered unfavorable for a quarterback at the time, but fast forward to 2025, if an NFL team has to choose between a conventional quarterback and a dual-threat quarterback, they prefer the latter.

According to Rex Ryan, if Randall Cunningham were drafted in today’s era, he would “no doubt end up in the Hall of Fame.” Interestingly, Buddy Ryan, the father of Rex, was the HC in Philadelphia when Cunningham was playing. Although his playing days are behind him, Cunningham continues to have a special place in his heart for Philadelphia.

In retrospect, even though he did not make it to Canton, Ohio, he had a respectable NFL career with three Pro Bowl appearances and, in his prime, was the face of the Eagles, with his face plastered on billboards. He is right about one thing: under the leadership of Jalen Hurts, the Eagles have a bright future, and their recent success is just the beginning. With their key players still on their roster, Philly will hope to repeat their success in the subsequent seasons.

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