PHILADELPHIA — It’s another transition year for Jalen Hurts with the Eagles bringing in a new offensive coordinator (Kevin Patullo) and quarterbacks coach (Scott Loefler).
For Hurts, this has become an annual routine. For those of you scoring at home, this is Hurts’ sixth different play caller and fifth different quarterbacks coach since he was drafted by the Eagles in 2020. Take it back to his college days at Alabama and Oklahoma and he has had 10 different play callers and nine different quarterback coaches.
The only thing that hasn’t changed is Hurts.
If you were worrying that the titles of Super Bowl champion or Super Bowl MVP might inflate his ego or deflate his desire to win, you can stop.
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“Nothing has changed in terms of the drive and the effort and the focus that I know it takes to go out there and do what I’m asked to do,” he said Tuesday after the Eagles went through a workout at the NovaCare Complex.
“There are a lot of things externally that you really can’t control. For me, I just focus inward on holding myself accountable to try to do my best. There may be external perspectives on different things. Ultimately, it’s all subjective. I try to do the objective … just focus on the things I can control by taking it a day at a time. Everything that has been accomplished to this point is great, but there is a desire to achieve more, and it has only intensified.”
Hurts’ drive doesn’t guarantee success for the 2025 season, but the fact that he now knows that his way of doing things can lead to the mountain top makes his career trajectory fascinating to think about.
His focus has always been in the right place on the field and he seems to be at ease with a lot of other things off the field as he gets ready for his sixth NFL season. However big or small the issues he has had with Nick Sirianni in the past appear to be gone entirely.
“Everything that he’s been able to achieve and accomplish he has earned,” Hurts said when asked about Sirianni’s new multi-year contract that is likely to keep the coach and quarterback paired deep into this decade. “Just to see his evolution and his growth from my perspective in playing quarterback for him, his entire tenure here has been a great experience and a great ride. There has been a lot of learning for both of us. Hopefully we’re just getting started.”
Hurts has also adopted a positive outlook on all the changes he has experienced at offensive coordinator and QB coach. A year ago at this time, he talked about yearning for the stability the Eagles’ offensive linemen have enjoyed during Jeff Stoutland’s 13-year tenure with the team.
Now?
“I think it’s unique to experience all the coaches I have … all those things have been positives for me because I’ve turned it into a positive," he said. “I’m able to lean on so many different things and decide when do I need it when it comes to going out there and performing and leading.”
Hurts loves to lead by example, but he does have a go-to phrase — “keep the main thing the main thing” — that he lives by and he expects the same from his teammates.
He knows the upcoming season isn’t going to be like the glorious one the Eagles completed 14 weeks ago. The most recent back-to-back Super Bowl champions tell us as much.
When the Chiefs beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl a couple years ago, they had the league’s No. 1 scoring offense and the No. 16 scoring defense. The following year when they beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl, they had the league’s No. 15 scoring offense and the No. 2 scoring defense.
The Eagles evolved in the middle of last season, relying more on Saquon Barkley to carry the load on offense and a defense that dominated on a weekly basis.
Maybe Hurts and the receiving trio of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert will have to do more in 2025 because the defense lost so many key players.
A year ago at this time, Hurts said 95% of the offense was going to be different with Kellen Moore calling plays. Patullo, as the passing game coordinator, watched it all. In fact, he’s been around for most of Hurts’ NFL journey.
“He has always played a pivotal role in what we’ve done,” Hurts said. “I think he has a great mentality and a great approach coming into everything right now. We were able to evolve (last year) and add a different dynamic obviously with having 26 (Barkley) back there. And then the ability to pass the ball and be efficient when we need to do that.”
That’s what the Eagles needed to do in the Super Bowl against the Chiefs and Hurts executed things to perfection.
“Right now, it’s just about laying the foundation in order to find out what iteration of this team we will be,” Hurts said. “Regardless of what’s what, we have a great, great dynamic when it comes to complementary players.
“You know how important defense is to me. I believe defense wins championships and our defense played their tails off all year. Whatever it is, let’s just find ways to win.”
Hurts sincerely believes the best way to do that is by being in the moment. When he was asked about reflecting on winning the Super Bowl and all the accolades that have come with it, he said “I’m here with the media talking about the 2025-26 season.”
Hurts is back at work and that’s where he seems to be the most comfortable.
“The main thing is always the main thing,” he said. “The routine has always been the routine whether we play into February or not and so you set goals to try to accomplish those things in that moment and in that month. Ultimately, the process is always ongoing. It’s always how can I get better and how can I improve and carry it out. I’m really excited about that.”
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Bob Brookover can be reached atrbrookover@njadvancemedia.com