JALEN HURTS SET TO ADAPT TO CHANGE ONCE AGAIN

Jalen Hurts has looked sharp in OTAs and Mandatory mini-camp. Photo by Terence Lewis.

When Jalen Hurts failed to hook up with tight end Dallas Goedert on fourth down in their NFC Wild Card playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the debate about who was at fault for the Birds early exit from the playoffs was at full throat on sports talk radio and podcast platforms throughout the Delaware Valley.

But even after the Eagles fired then offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, Hurts received the most scorn from fans and podcast pundits. 

When you throw in the discontent of former Eagles wide receiver, A.J. Brown, who spent most of the offseason pushing for a trade, fans and pundits kept blaming Hurts.

Back in April, an ESPN report reported that Hurts allegedly changed the fourth down play in the loss to the 49ers.  It was reported that Hurts was uncoachable and not comfortable with Patullo’s offensive scheme. 

Hurts' critics pointed to the Eagles offense ranking 19th in the NFL in passing offense, 24th in the league in third down conversions. Oddly enough, Hurts completed 65 percent of his passes, threw 25 touchdown passes (tied for 9th)  against six interceptions. He had 3,224 passing yards(ranked 16th ).

To be honest, the Birds' troubles last season were not all on Hurts. Injuries plagued the Birds offensive line all last season. And the oft-times restructured offensive line hampered the Eagles offense in both the running game and the passing game.

Saquon Barkley, who rushed for 2,005 yards rushing and averaged 5.8 yard in 2024, fell to 1,140 yards rushing while averaging about 4.1 yards rushing. He did not get his first 100 yard rushing game until week eight.

With the hiring of new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, Hurts is in what some observers are saying is in a “prove it” year coming into the 2026 season as the Eagles convene for training camp at Jefferson Training Center.  

The idea of Hurts coming into a season with something to prove is nothing new for former Alabama/Oklahoma star. It is something he has been doing since his college days and during his time in the NFL.

In fact, some would argue that Hurts has more than proven himself in the five years he has been the starting  quarterback even with the carousel of different offensive coordinators.

Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni share a moment in the Eagles locker room after the Birds' 13-12 win at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park NY. The Eagles offense struggled despite the victory. Photo by Al Thompson

Since coming to the Eagles as a second-round pick in 2020, Hurts ability to adjust to different situations and coordinators has paid off handsomely for an Eagles franchise and a sports town that was starved for championships.

“I’m always open to growth, I’m always open to improvement,” Hurts said. “Fluency is important, so being able to build with one language and grow within that. That opportunity excites me. We talk about this on a year to year, but we never talk about this on a multiyear occasion. I think about that in perspective to my growth.”

He has a 57-25 record  (6-4 in the playoffs) as a starting quarterback and is the only starting quarterback in the history of Eagles to lead his team two Super Bowls. He has accomplished this in two of the last four seasons.

In both Super Bowls against the Kansas City Chiefs, Hurts was the best player on the field. In the Super Bowl the Birds won, he was the MVP of the game. In the Super Bowl the Eagles lost, Hurts outplayed  Patrick Mahomes,  who was voted the game’s MVP.

“I have accepted the pieces and situations that have come because it’s truly been about winning,” Hurts said. “Everybody is dealt their own set of cards. Mine has been dealing with change. I’ve made the most of that, so whatever is to come. I just want to continue to grow and be the best I can be.”

Even though he has been under the microscope of constant scrutiny and perhaps unfair blame by some fans and media, Hurts never begged anybody for anybody for a platform to respond to his critics, especially during his press conference during the team’s mandatory minicamp when he was asked about the final play of the Wildcard playoff game against San Francisco.

“I never asked for the opportunity to respond to anything,” Hurts said. “So, just let it live and go do my job.”

And that’s the only thing that Hurts has done during his seven years as QB1. *