The Philadelphia Eagles did not live up to expectations in the last season. Despite having the likes of Jalen Hurts on the team, they could not build on their Super Bowl win in the previous season. They had an 11-6 record in the regular season, and lost in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs against the San Francisco 49ers.
The franchise itself has taken heavy action within the roster and has cut off many individuals. However, they faced an initial problem in their hiring process.
OC prospects reject Eagles job due to Jalen Hurts
The Eagles took an important step by firing their offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, after a poor season where they underperformed in offense. Head coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman then looked to appoint a replacement that can revitalize the team’s offensive stars. After interviewing 17 candidates, with 7 of them getting a second interview, they chose Sean Mannion for the role.
Feb 2, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterrback Jalen Hurts (1) during NFC practice at the NFL Flag Fieldhouse at Moscone Center South Building. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Feb 2, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterrback Jalen Hurts (1) during NFC practice at the NFL Flag Fieldhouse at Moscone Center South Building. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
However, they were initially facing problems in their search as many experienced and high-profile candidates withdrew or declined the role, due to hesitation over star quarterback Hurts. According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom, there were concerns among prospective candidates over the player’s inconsistency in performances.
This is surprising considering Hurts led the Eagles to a Super Bowl LIX victory and is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He passed for 3,224 yards with a 64.8% pass completion percentage and 25 touchdowns with 6 interceptions. He also rushed for 421 yards with 8 touchdowns.
However, he often seems to hold the ball too long which is proven by his 32 sacks sustained last season. It was also an overall poor season by his standards. The Eagles’ history of firing coordinators after only one season was also an important factor to consider for many candidates who wanted stability in the role.
Nick Sirianni says Jalen Hurts can adapt under Sean Mannion
Hurts will now have to newly adapt to Mannion’s play schemes, and learn how to call plays on the field. Mannion is from the Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay coaching tree, both of whom prioritize more play-action and focus on tying the run and pass together.
Sirianni is confident that Hurts can adapt to this scheme, as stated in an interview before the NFL Combine. He said, “He’s shown that he can do all these things. I think what’s awesome about Jalen is he’s shown he can do a lot of things really well. And that’s a sign of a good football player. You may have a scheme, you always want to fit it to the players. But the great thing about great players is they can usually fit to any scheme.”
Jalen Hurts and Sean Mannion must work together if they want to find success in the 2026 season.