Overview

• Hurts announced the project on June 23 and opened preorders at Penguin Random House, Barnes & Noble and Amazon ahead of its March 10, 2026 release.
• Better Than a Touchdown follows a boy named Jalen who rallies his friends and community to restore their school’s cut football program.
• Illustrated by Nenka Myers, the book is being published by Flamingo Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, at $19.99.
• Drawing on his own life lessons, Hurts said he wrote the story to promote resilience, self-belief and teamwork among young readers.
• The book fulfills a long-held dream for Hurts and complements his off-field efforts, including work through his Jalen Hurts Foundation.