It wasn’t long ago that the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LIX with quarterback and MVP Jalen Hurts.
After that, it looked like Hurts would remain the Eagles’ unquestioned franchise quarterback for years. But internal issues the past few seasons have put him on shaky ground — and that might be underselling it.
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Hurts and the Eagles struggled on offense. Those struggles were obvious even during the 2024 season when Philly won the Super Bowl.
Things got worse in 2025, with star wide receiver A.J. Brown publicly expressing frustration with the team’s offense, although he didn’t attack his quarterback.
Amid those problems, Brown reportedly requested a trade multiple times in 2025. The trade rumors continue to swirl around him this offseason.
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At this point, it feels like a Brown trade is inevitable.
Jalen Hurts rumors detail internal issues
A new ESPN report from Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler sheds light on the team’s issues with Hurts. A source told the reporters that Hurts “has had a hand in the offense becoming calcified.”
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Hurts isn’t totally against making changes, but he makes them at the line of scrimmage to an excessive degree.
“Though there is plenty of blame to spread, Hurts has had a hand in the offense becoming calcified, according to several team sources who spoke to ESPN on condition of anonymity,” McManus and Fowler reported.
“He has pushed back on changes that would diversify the scheme, sources said, including when it comes to him going under center more. He has shown a reluctance to let it rip at times, particularly against zone coverage. He diverts from the game plan and changes playcalls to what some feel is an excessive degree,” the report added.
Sep 21, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and head coach Nick Sirianni celebrate after a victory against the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Hurts was reluctant to play under center because he prefers not to “turn his back on the defense” and likes to “process coverages with everything in front of him,” a source told ESPN.
ESPN confirms Brown grew frustrated with his friend, and their relationship has been rocky with the Eagles.
“Some of that growing frustration in 2025 was directed at Hurts, team sources said, including by Brown, whose longstanding relationship with the quarterback has been tested over their four years in Philadelphia,” the ESPN reporters wrote.
Another source criticized Hurts for his “poor body language” and how the signal-caller isn’t “always bought in” and is “not the most coachable.”
Looking ahead to 2026, the dynamic between Hurts and new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion will be fascinating to watch. Mannion’s offense involves the quarterback being under center more, something Hurts clearly does not like to do.
Time will tell if the relationship works. If the Eagles have another lackluster offensive season and Hurts bears some blame, it could mark the beginning of the end for him in Philadelphia.