Better Than a Touchdown

by Jalen Hurts, Nneka Myers (Illustrator)

Overview

From Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts comes an empowering story about friendship, the power of teamwork, and achieving goals together.

Jalen is so excited for the new school year because this is the year he’ll finally get to try out for the football team! But when he arrives at school, he learns the unthinkable—that the football team has been cut. He and his friends are devastated. But Jalen isn’t ready to give up, and with some advice from some friends, maybe—just maybe—they can save the day.

Better than a Touchdown is a love letter to the power of community, being there for one another, and how a piece of good advice can change the course of a day. Told with Jalen’s signature wisdom and gorgeous art by Nneka Myers, Better than a Touchdown carries a message we can all learn from: that by working together, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798217040322
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	03/10/2026
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Jalen Hurts is the star quarterback and Super Bowl MVP for the reigning Super Bowl Champions the Philadelphia Eagles. Known for his exceptional leadership and work ethic, Hurts was selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft after a stellar collegiate career at Alabama and Oklahoma. In just a few seasons, he has rapidly risen to become one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks, leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl in the 2022 to 2023 season and winning the Super Bowl and earning MVP honors in the 2024 to 2025 season. Beyond his on-field success, Hurts made history by becoming the highest-paid NFL player in NFL history at the time with his contract extension in 2023.

During his college career, Jalen Hurts was integral during Alabama's 2017 National Championship. He would go on to transfer to Oklahoma, where he would earn third-team All-American honors and become a Heisman finalist. His other NFL accolades include two Pro Bowl nods and a second-team All-Pro selection in 2022.

Hurts's off-the-field portfolio is just as impressive: He founded the Jalen Hurts Foundation, which serves to strengthen communities by servicing and advancing the youth. Separately, Hurts has partnered with a variety of brands, including the Jordan Brand in August 2023. He's also partnered with Hulu, Gillette, and Pepsi. In 2024, he was named the Olympic global flag football ambassador to the NFL.

Nneka Myers is an illustrator and character designer based in Toronto, Canada. Since graduating with a BAA in animation from Sheridan College, her vibrant illustrations and designs have been published in several children's books and in animated preschool shows.