There seems to be no end in sight to the negative pieces, posts, and comments regarding Jalen Hurts. The trending topics range from the Eagles brass not having faith in him to Jalen possibly wanting out of Philadelphia.
During the season, it was suggested that some teammates didn’t have faith in him. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts has long been used as clickbait, rage bait, whatever term is popular at this time for attracting engagement. Many fans and some in the media have used his name to perpetuate falsehoods and share bad takes in the name of netting a click, like, or even a buck.
Unfortunately, those takes have led many people to believe those things are true, which has made him one of the most misunderstood and polarizing elite quarterbacks in the NFL. He has been labeled everything from a “system QB” to a “tush push merchant” to a “limited passer,” and many view him as an enigma.
But the truth is less mysterious and far more impressive. There’s nothing confusing about Jalen Hurts if you’re actually paying attention. Hurts isn’t an enigma, which, by definition, is puzzling, mysterious, and difficult to understand. He’s quite the opposite.
Hurts is predictable, consistent, a leader, and a winner.
Many takes on Jalen Hurts get it wrong because they are rooted in archaic quarterbacking philosophies.
He is more than a pocket passer and a lot more than a run-first QB surviving on athleticism.
Jalen is a walking, breathing, hybrid built to win in and outside of structure. He doesn’t rely on, nor care about, gaudy stats or what casual viewers or the media think of his game. Which may hurt some feelings, no pun intended.
He is improvisational chaos with an obsession to succeed. And his success is often overlooked. As quarterback, his job is to run the offense, make accurate decisions while under pressure, protect the football, and win games.
Quarterbacking is not built on guesswork; it is rooted in real-time decision-making. The offense Hurts runs in Philadelphia, through all its variations and different offensive coordinators, hasn’t been simplified; it has been weaponized.
Jalen's ability to process pre- and post-snap identifies leverage, coverage, and matchups that favor the offense. That skill is not a mysterious enigma; it is mastery, and he discussed it during OTAs.
“I do really want to become an expert at the (quarterback) position, and I want to grow within the position.”
Yet there are those who claim he doesn’t understand the game or refuses to accept coaching. A lot of comments and opinions out there are untrue, and it is easy to see how wrong the naysayers and doubters are.
Jalen Hurts is a “system quarterback.”
A lazy, hollow classification. Does Jalen elevate the offense? Yes. Does his presence dictate a defensive reaction? Yes. Does his ability to run force extra defenders into the box and cause hesitation to determine who is going to carry the ball? Yes again. See a pattern emerging? None of those affirmative answers indicates that a QB is being carried by a system; rather, the quarterback is the system.
The Philadelphia Eagles QB1 is a “tush push merchant.”
Another label that is unequivocally false. Does he get the touchdown when asked to perform the brotherly shove? Yes! Does he also get yards to extend drives and stress a defense, opening lanes for Saquon Barkley and every other running back he has played with during his time as an Eagle? Yes again. Look at how many running backs had their career-high rushing yards when playing with Jalen Hurts, even running back Miles Sanders, who had the same offensive line before Jalen took over as QB, improved. Which is to say, the o-line has been great; Hurts makes them better.
In addition to the impact he makes on the running backs' yardage, just for fun, here are some Jalen Hurts rushing stats: 2554 rushing yards and 63 rushing touchdowns, good for a 4.6 yards per attempt average. A lot higher than the one-yard that the tush push typically consists of, and those rushing numbers are based on 779 attempts.
Hurts is a “low ceiling, limited passer.”
This narrative refuses to go away despite a plethora of evidence to the contrary. Does he chase reckless throws? No. That is not a limitation; that is control. He takes what the defense gives him and never pursues inflated numbers, despite being one of the more efficient deep passers in the NFL. He also throws one of the best deep balls in the NFL. The comments stem from a narrow snapshot of his early-career profile or from the isolation of certain dropback-only metrics. The claims do not hold and instead identify the commentator as the one who misunderstood the scheme, assignments, and offensive emphasis during his tenure.
Jalen drives the ball outside the numbers, hits deep throws with velocity, and has shown that repeatedly. Whether it has been go balls, deep posts, or layered sideline throws.
The Eagles didn’t build an offense that avoids those throws; they’ve trusted him to execute them in high-leverage situations. The narrative doesn’t really hold up when you look at how his passing has unfolded in context.
Of all the ridiculous comments about Jalen, the most inaccurate is the claim that he is uncoachable.
The Philadelphia Eagles 2025 QB Coach, Scot Loeffler, recently addressed that issue while working out with Jalen in 2026, despite him no longer being with the team.
“He’s a super coachable, championship-type of guy, and being able to work with him for a year was awesome. He’s a champion in every aspect of the word. He’s hard-working, smart, and he’s a great competitor.”
His dedication to the game and desire to learn and be great are unmatched. He desires to be the best.
In Alabama, some stated that he arrived as a raw, dynamic athlete. During his time with Saban, he improved his mechanics, poise, and presence, and commanded the offense for two seasons as their starter. Even after losing his job, he responded with maturity and support. The opposite reaction to someone who cannot take coaching and being challenged.
In Oklahoma, he embraced a more aggressive downfield attacking system and finished as a Heisman finalist. He studied, he put in the work, he accepted coaching, and his desire to be great paid off.
Hurts has continued to evolve in the NFL, as he did in college, excelling under a new offensive coordinator each year. Succeeding under those conditions is not the outcome for a player who refuses to be coached up.
In Philadelphia, when new head coach Nick Sirianni gave up play-calling duties during the 2021 season, he adapted midseason when Shane Steichen took over. The offense shifted to a run-heavy identity, and they leaned more on his mobility to stabilize it. He accepted coaching to adopt a new approach and thrived.
In 2022, he worked during the offseason to improve his timing and footwork; he accomplished both, transforming himself into an MVP candidate and a high-caliber passing threat. He led the Eagles to the Super Bowl at 24 years old.
In 2024, after the departure of center Jason Kelce and the arrival of yet another OC, Kellen Moore, Hurts was asked to adjust coverage protections; mission accomplished again. They went on to dominate all season long and won a Super Bowl.
2026 brings another new OC, but also the same dedication from QB1, and the early results are good.
“It’s been a really good process so far. He’s (Mannion) come in, and he’s very clear, given good direction. You can definitely see the vision. Been able to answer all of my questions. Very instructive, very helpful. So it’s been a very enjoyable journey so far.”
New OC Sean Mannion agrees
In many ways, quarterbacking isn’t just a job; it has been destiny. Growing up a coach's son and dedicating so much time to the sport he loves doesnt leave many other options.
Jalen’s desire to be great, his willingness to accept coaching, and his ability to avoid outside noise have all been key to his success, and he is one of the most headstrong athletes you will ever meet.
Some also struggle in their evaluations of Jalen, not because of his play, but rather because he doesn't fit their outdated, traditional eye-test expectations about his personality.
Jalen is not animated. His demeanor is calm, which is also what makes him dangerous. He is calculated, not volatile. He appears unemotional at times, like a robot, trained to execute. And he always wants to do more. He showed that during Super Bowl 59.
The reality is that he loves the game and blocks out the noise that would elicit a response from many others. That rubs some people the wrong way, even infuriates them at times. But he handles adversity with grace and class.
When Jalen was asked for his opinion on AJ Brown's comment that he and Hurts were not as close as they used to be, he gave the perfect answer. No drama, just a comment that ends any further follow-ups.
“I’m not in a place to challenge anyone’s perspective.”
During a recent post-camp media availability, Hurts was asked how he felt about a particular article that some have taken as a hit piece towards him.
“I’ve never really asked for an opportunity to respond to anything.”
Another perfect response. Calm, calculated, deliberate, but don’t mistake that for weakness.
Hurts is calm and calculated on the outside, but inside there is a burning desire to succeed that few athletes share, reminiscent of Michael Jordan.
His desire to prove himself fueled him when he first arrived in the NFL. He’s done that. His desire to win is the only motivation he has now, or needs.
And winning is something he has done at every level, but he knows it takes everyone in the organization to achieve his and the team's goals.
The behind-the-scenes connections and unseen work are essential to sustaining success. For Jalen Hurts, chemistry isn’t just a buzzword. It is the foundation for winning.
I will never understand the content for him. This is an athlete who only strives to be great and puts in the work to do so.
“For me, I’m truly focused on being the best I can be right now. That’s where my energy is. There’s a lot of change, as is. I’m focused on this offense. I’m focused on building with Sean and being at my best.”
Hurts has quarterbacked the Eagles to five straight playoff appearances, two NFC crowns, and a Super Bowl title. A three-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro, who has also taken home MVP honors in Super Bowl LIX. After earning that honor and being called Super Bowl MVP, he replied, "Super Bowl Champ".
That's Jalen Hurts.
During recent OTAs, Hurts stated, “I always want to do whatever it takes to win.”
A trait that everyone who watches and covers him has seen firsthand.
As he heads into his seventh year in the NFL, Jalen Hurts has reflected on how the early years were about proving he belonged. Now it’s just about winning and rising to the moment when it matters most.
He consistently powers the entire offense rather than merely operating within it. He sets the tempo and enables everything else to function efficiently. Jalen dictates defensive structure, sustains drives, and creates opportunities for the other weapons on offense. He is the core mechanism through which all that runs.
Jalen Hurts is not an enigma; he is the engine.
As always, thank you for reading!
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