As a rookie second-round pick out of Oklahoma, the school to which he transferred after losing his starting job at Alabama to Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts was tasked with starting the final four games of the Eagles 2020 regular season after former No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz was benched as the starter. Hurts debut as a starting passer in the NFL provided a mixed bag in those final four contests of the year, but Hurts has not relinquished the starting job from that point on.
This offseason, though things haven’t progressed far enough to threaten Hurts’ role as a starter in 2026, questions and concerns have been raised that could result in a number of changes to Philadelphia’s handling of the quarterback position. A joint report from ESPN’s Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler in early April revealed that some blame for the team’s offensive struggles, though spread to several factors, is being placed on Hurts’ shoulders.
Specifically, sources with the team seem to indicate that Hurts’ unwillingness to diversify the offensive scheme has hamstrung the offense from progressing into something more. Pushing back on ideas as simple as going under center more, Hurts has been reluctant to rely on his arm in some zone-coverage situations and will “(divert) from the game plan and (change) playcalls to what some feel is an excessive degree.” It’s limited the team’s offense from progressing into a more complete passing attack and forced the unit to rely on the legs of star running back Saquon Barkley.
In the face of some recent struggles and losses, Hurts has been able to maintain a cool head, a useful attribute when one is in the heat of battle but one that can come off another way when the season is over. Sources in the building claim that some teammates read Hurts’ demeanor as “poor body language” or a sign that he’s “not always bought in” and “not the most coachable.” It’s something players are reportedly noticing, and now that it’s been made public, it’s become something he will need to actively work on.
Some of the blame that gets shifted off of Hurts goes to the lack of consistent coaching around him throughout his tenure in Philadelphia. Since taking over the starting job, Hurts has had five offensive coordinators in six seasons. The only season in which Hurts saw any consistency was when Shane Steichen got to be his play-caller for a second year in 2022. That season saw Hurts win 14 of his 15 starts and finish second in MVP voting, losing the award to the quarterback of the team that would defeat them in the Super Bowl that year.
Steichen left the team for a head coaching opportunity, and his successor, Brian Johnson, was fired when the team lost five of their last six games following a 10-1 start then made a first-round playoff exit. Kellen Moore found more success in Philadelphia the next year, leading the team to its second Super Bowl victory, but it required him to implement some new offensive concepts. Per McManus and Fowler, sources with the team “described the relationship between Moore and Hurts…as ‘tense’ at times,” but the two were able to find compromise as Hurts agreed to run some plays with more pre-snap motions and shifts.
Moore’s successor, Kevin Patullo, was fired after his only year as the team’s coordinator saw the offense take a major step backwards last year. While Patullo was “well-liked and respected in the building,” players reportedly “lost faith” in the play-caller. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion has been tasked with un-sticking his unit. According to Zach Berman of The Athletic, Hurts will be expected to make quite a few more compromises in Mannion’s attempts to ‘blend’ the offense, and that will likely mean more work under center for the six-year veteran.
Another change in the QB room could concern the number of players in the room. Per Geoff Mosher of the PhillyVoice, “the Eagles are keeping four quarterbacks no matter what” in 2026. Already returning backup Tanner McKee alongside Hurts, the team traded for veteran backup Andy Dalton and drafted North Dakota State’s Cole Payton in the fifth-round. Initially, it was thought that Dalton was being brought in as overqualified QB3, but Berman noted that Dalton has been taking some QB2 reps over McKee in Organized Team Activities.
2026 will be a big season for Hurts as it appears more scrutinous eyes will be on him moving forward. Per McManus and Fowler, “there are no signs” that Hurts and the Eagles have begun working towards a new contract extension. Though there’s still plenty of time before that becomes a priority, there’s not much guaranteed money left on Hurts’ contract past this year. The combination of an uncertain financial future and increased bodies in the position room behind him may just be enough to push Hurts to make the necessary changes to jump start the Eagles offense moving forward.
We know that NFL coaching staffs have become absurdly bloated but surely the Eagles don’t need to hire a “body language” coach for Hurts 🙂
Payton will be on PS. McKee could get moved for a pick but he is a longer back up answer than Dalton. They won’t make many changes besides hopeing AJ leaves means sunshine and rainbows.
Nobody is going to address the elephant in the room…it’s all Big Dom’s fault.
It’s about time the stuff that was obvious about Hurts from day one starts being called out for what it is.
All of the stuff they blamed on the coordinators was in fact Hurts refusing to do the very things fans were screaming for and talking like the coordinators were stopping the offense from doing.
As I’ve said time after time, the Eagles’ offense is how it is because that’s the way Hurts has been as a QB since high school. He’s the one refusing to adapt this whole time.
Eagles are keeping 4 QBs “no matter what”? On a 46 man roster? Yeah, good luck with that. Maybe they do after initial roster cuts, maybe even for a week or 2… but no way are they carrying that kind of roster flexibility anchor for a full season.
4 QBs seems a bit excessive unless the plan is to run the tush push on every snap…lol.
what exactly has Tanner McKee done to get this level of consideration
What do you suggest? Release him? At every step he’s shown upside, just be happy Hurts doesn’t suffer a long term injury or he’s your #1 and you’ll really find out
The spread offense on most college teams means a steep learning curve for those like Hurts who rarely if ever lined up directly behind the center.
That they have had this much success despite constant OC turnover is a testament to Hurts. The passing offense changed for the worse when Steichen left. They switched to a road grader, run first team behind Barkley
Hurts was drafted in the second round and many saw that as a reach at the time. He’s completed 5 seasons as a full time starting QB, has won 1 Super Bowl and lost one. 2 finals in 5 years, yall need to relax.
Yes he has some very clear and obvious faults but as the article says he’s also had a revolving door of OC’s and the one time he had one stay longer than 1 season he was second in MVP voting.
He’s 3 years younger than Josh Allen who has never been to the SB.
2 years younger than Lamar Jackson who has never been to the SB.
Justin Herbert has never even won a playoff game.
Joe Burrow has 1 SB appearance and it was a loss.
He doesn’t need to be the best QB in the league. What he’s done in 5 years he’s been a starter, in terms of leading his team to success, he’s top 3 with Mahomes and Stafford.
I’d love it if he could could be more consistent of a threat passing the ball but ultimately if he gets wins then I’m happy
He doesn’t belong in the same conversation with any of those guys. Those guys regularly put their teams on their back, and only one of them has pretty much ever had two Pro Bowl WRs the way Hurts has this entire time.
Allen and Lamar do more with less than Hurts has ever or will ever do with so much more.
Those QBs with the exception of Stafford CARRIED their teams to the Superbowl. They didn’t play mediocre on a superteam.
You’re right. He doesn’t belong in the same sentence with those guys. Hurts has been far more successful than the current crop, except for Mahomes.
DeVonta Smith has never been to a pro bowl, he only has 1 pro bowl receiver in AJ.
Burrow has Chase and Higgins, Mahomes had Hill, Lamar has Flowers who’s a two time pro bowler.
Josh Allen had Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley also made a pro bowl. Obviously Stafford had Kupp and has Puka.
Hurts definitely has had some strong teams he’s lead but end of the day he’s still the one making sure they get it done on offence.
You consistently prove your comments are not important.
After A.J. Brown this year, I predict Hurts will get traded next. I was thinking in 2028 but looks like post-June 1st, 2027 seems like the better option based on how his contract was made (guaranteed money, void years, and all that). So this might really be his make-or-break year.
He has ZERO guaranteed money after this season
I just don’t see that happening.
notimportant, it definitely is hard to see it happening. However, if the Eagles really don’t want to give him another extension (as per rumors, whether true or not), then I’d prefer not to lose him for free in 2029. That’s why I thought he’d probably be traded, if that were an option, in 2028 but 2027 could be just as likely. But again, I’m probably going to be wrong. I just pray we make the right decision, whatever that is…
I think I get it, if he doesn’t adapt & start working with the new scheme instead of changing plays, he’s gonna be the next one to go. Andy Dalton is there to be the veteran backup, but McKee is so highly regarded just based on preseason performance, they will at least give him a shot if Hurts is traded.
With the kind of talent they put around Hurts is ridiculous, I’m sure most starting QBs would love to be starting for that team, makes an average QB posing as a star, into a SuperBowl winner…..that’s the real story