Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had no control over it, but he became the most polarizing player on the roster in the offseason.
There were all kinds of reports about Hurts, including ones that said he was uncoachable and changed plays, one with the organization not giving him an extension because he needed to prove himself in 2026, and another that said that he was unhappy with not having many teammates and coaches defend him. All of that, with an average performance in 2025, resulted in Hurts being named to The Athletic's "one player on each team to have the most on the line in 2026" list.
"It might seem ridiculous to suggest a Super Bowl MVP has the most on the line, but this has less to do with what Hurts accomplished and more to do with what’s ahead," Eagles reporter Zach Berman said. "The Eagles overhauled their offense by hiring OC Sean Mannion, giving Hurts a new play caller entering the season every year in his career. Unlike 2024, a change was made this time because of the offense’s underachievement. If it struggles again, it’s unlikely the Eagles keep looking at the play calling as the fix. The guaranteed money remaining on Hurts’ contract is waning, and he’s no longer among the top 10 in the NFL for highest-paid players at his position. There will soon need to be another decision about Hurts’ long-term future with the franchise. He’s answered the bell throughout his career, and he has the hardware to show for it. But the offense must play better — and the quarterback is a big part of it."
Jalen Hurts is facing all kinds of heat in 2026
Everyone loves just piling all the pressure on Hurts. Berman was correct about one thing: it is ridiculous to suggest that Hurts has the most on the line.
He was a Super Bowl MVP and has been to three Pro Bowls. Hurts is one of the winningest quarterbacks in the NFL with a 68% winning percentage in his starts.
Of course, though, he's under pressure since he is the starting quarterback and has higher standards than the rest of the NFL. 11 wins weren't enough for the Eagles last season after coming off a Super Bowl run the previous year.
The question for the Eagles is what happens if Hurts repeats the same kind of season he had last year. Does he get the ax in the offseason? Will Eagles general manager Howie Roseman bring in young competition to compete for the starting job with Hurts?
Read more:Where does Nick Sirianni rank among Eagles coaches in team history?
It all seems silly to think about, but this is Philly, where everything gets intensified by a million. Hurts is stuck in the situation and now must prove the doubters wrong with a great performance that will make the franchise believe again.
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Follow