Better Than a Touchdown
Hardcover – Picture Book, March 10, 2026
Penguin Young Readers Group · Hardcover · March 10, 2026
From Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts comes an empowering story about friendship, the power of teamwork, and achieving goals together.
We earn from qualifying purchases.
- Who it’s for
- A canceled football team brings Jalen and friends together to act.
- Themes
- Friendship and community, Teamwork, Persevering through setbacks
- Genres
- Football Stories, Friendship, Values & Virtues
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.
Bronco and Friends: a Party to RememberTim Tebow62% match
I Got NextDaria Peoples-Riley62% match
We Are FamilyLeBron James, Andrea Williams61% matchShares Friendship
Final SeasonTim Green59% matchShares Football Stories
Little Shaq: Star of the WeekShaquille O'Neal59% match
Saving the TeamAlex Morgan, Paula Franco59% matchShares Friendship
The Incredibly Human Henson BlayzeDerrick Barnes59% matchShares Football Stories
For older readers: After the Shot Drops, Game Change, Gutless
Start with three books, and this one can be the first.
Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.
Start with this bookAbout this book
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.
Continue reading
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.
A Cut Football Team
A canceled football team brings Jalen and friends together to act.
Come here for
- A school-year football tryout that disappears before it begins
- Friends offering advice when the team is cut
Expect
- A story centered on friendship, community, and helping one another
- Jalen facing a setback without giving up
Where it sits
| Friendship | 89% |
|---|---|
| Football Stories | 83% |
| Values & Virtues | 51% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Football Stories
- Self-Esteem & Resilience
- Values & Virtues
- Authors
- Jalen Hurts
- Publisher
- Penguin Young Readers Group
- Published
- March 10, 2026
- Format
- Hardcover
- Theme
- Friendship and community · Teamwork · Persevering through setbacks
- Reading lane
- Football Stories