WATCH: DeVonta Smith credits 'Bama' for him and Jalen Hurts' mentality
Despite an NFC title win on Sunday, Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith and quarterback Jalen Hurts aren’t allowing themselves to get too caught up in the celebration. Both players shared that sentiment in their postgame interviews, making it known it’s back to business ahead of the Super Bowl.
“It’s amazing,” Smith said of the win. “From OTAs, to camp, to now, everybody came in every day and did the things they’re supposed to do. But ultimately, the job’s not done.”
Philadelphia TV reporter John Clark followed up by asking Smith where that mentality comes from. A smile crept onto the receiver’s face as he gave his answer.
“Bama,” he said.
Both Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith played under Nick Saban at Alabama, where they were teammates as the Crimson Tide won the national championship in 2017. There they learned the lessons the Saban preaches to all his players about discipline and focus, and have clearly carried that with them to the pros.
The pair of former Alabama players helped lead the Eagles to a 14-3 finish in the regular season, which tied them with Kansas City for the league’s best record. They earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC as a result, defeating both the Giants and 49ers to reach the Super Bowl.
Smith was the Eagles’ second-leading receiver behind AJ Brown this season, recording 95 catches for 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns. In the Eagles two postseason games, he has six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown.
The last time the Eagles won the Super Bowl was in 2017, the same year Hurts and Smith won a national title with Alabama. Now they have a chance to lead Philadelphia to just its second Super Bowl in franchise history, thanks in part to what they learned in Tuscaloosa.
Kickoff for the Super Bowl is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona.