Is Philadelphia the only sports town where you can participate in two Super Bowls over the last three years, winning one of them a little over a year ago, have been a playoff participant in each of the last five seasons and yet, turmoil seems to still surround the team?
Perhaps.
An in-depth story by ESPN's Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler certainly paints that picture of the Eagles, particularly when it comes to the state of affairs concerning quarterback Jalen Hurts. Citing many sources, McManus points out the hardships the quarterback and the team have had to endure with Hurts' reluctance to play a style coaches request, most notable being under center, his seeming inability to improve in certain areas and shaky relationships with teammates and coaches. All this while compiling a 64.7 winning percentage (57-25) with Hurts as the starter.
A big focus of the story is the final play of the 2025 season against the San Francisco 49ers. With the Eagles trailing 23-19 and facing fourth-and-11 from the 49ers 21-yard line, coach Nick Sirianni, Hurts and then offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo huddled to discuss what play would be run, ultimately deciding on "four verts" which calls for four vertical routes. It was the exact same play they had run previously. The play was snuffed out when three San Francisco defenders converted on tight end Dallas Goedert and easily broke up the play and the Eagles bid for a Super Bowl repeat.
Patullo took the blame for the call, and ultimately lost his job. Sources indicated in the ESPN story that it was Hurts who called for the play. It was also revealed that during a 10-7 win over the Green Bay Packer earlier in the season, Hurts and A.J. Brown called their own play with a three-point lead and 33 seconds to play. On fourth-and-six at the Packers 35, the two decided to attempt a deep go route down the left sideline that fell incomplete and gave Green Bay the ball with 27 left. They drove into field goal position but missed and the Eagles prevailed.
Hurts, of course, now enters another season with a new offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion, the sixth one Hurts has had in what will be his seventh season. Mannion, 33, will be implementing an offense that relies on the QB being under center a lot and with plenty of motion, two areas that Hurts does not particularly care for. Once source in the story spoke of Hurts bad body language at times and him not being the most coachable of players.
The work ethic of the quarterback is undeniable, the story cites, but so are his weaknesses, particularly airing it out against zone coverages and his diversion from the game plan with an excessive degree of changing the plays called.
Most of the subjects on Hurts in the story have been discussed excessively throughout his career here in Philadelphia. But the story sheds light on specific instances and provides insight from those in the know.
How it all plays out for this season, we'll see. But one thing is for sure, there's never a dull moment when it comes to the Eagles.
