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Aug 25, 2025 2:14 PM EDT
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is one of the quietest, most mild-mannered leaders the sports world has ever seen, yet he always seems to find himself at the center of some of the biggest NFL debates.
His standing among the league’s elite passers has always been a contentious argument, but the discussion has only intensified after Philadelphia beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl earlier this year.
Eagles fans deemed it appropriate to elevate Hurts to top five status after the epic beatdown because no other active quarterback has been able to dethrone Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs, with the exception Cincinnati Bengals signal caller Joe Burrow.
However, the other 31 fanbases find a massive issue with this stance, and the debates are sure to become more divisive after Hurts’ NFL Top 100 ranking was released.
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Some fans in Philadelphia are disappointed with Hurts dropping four spots compared to last year’s list, but the No. 19 ranking is undoubtedly a win.
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Mahomes, Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are likely the only quarterbacks who will be ranked above Hurts, which is the exact level of respect his supporters have been clamoring for.
The sixth-year veteran hasn’t posted the best numbers since becoming the full-time starter in 2021 and he probably never will.
It became evident during the Super Bowl run that Hurts’ success will never be measured in the same way as other quarterbacks. He plays in an offense that is predicated on establishing the run and making accurate, timely throws to keep the sticks moving.
This style is clearly successful for the Eagles, but it isn’t conducive to strong passing numbers, which allows people to use his stats against him.
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His numbers may show an underwhelming passer, but we’ve seen in select spots over the last few years that when the rubber meets the road, Hurts takes his passing game to another level.
When wide receiver A.J. Brown seemed to call out Hurts before their regular season matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers by saying he thinks the offense needs to improve on passing, the former MVP candidate responded with a 290-yard and two touchdown day through the air.
Additionally, after being torn down for his low passing outputs through the first two rounds of the playoffs, Hurts rose to the occasion again and combined to throw for nearly 500 yards in the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl to go along with three passing touchdowns.
It shouldn’t be glossed over that Hurts has won at every level he’s played at, whether his stats showed an elite quarterback or not. There are certainly tens of quarterbacks in the NFL with more talent, but that talent is meaningless if it doesn’t translate to winning championships.
One important lesson to learn from guys like Hurts is that sometimes, intangibles are more important than talent. If you rank the most talented quarterbacks in the league, Hurts’ name would never appear.
Conversely, if you made a list of the best winners in the league, those guys who dominate Hurts in the talent department would be nowhere to be found. Jalen Hurts is a top five quarterback; he just has a unique way of displaying his greatness that will never show up in the box score.
About the Author
Paul White