Just one year after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, the Philadelphia Eagles find themselves surrounded by controversy. Reports of tension between star quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown surfaced throughout the season, and now the Super Bowl MVP is facing growing scrutiny for the team’s struggles.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Tim McManus recently detailed friction between Hurts and the front office, with anonymous team sources blaming the quarterback for making the offense “calcified.”
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“Poor body language, not always bought in, not the most coachable and the players notice,” one of the team sources said about Hurts.
Jalen Hurts looks to throw a pass in heavy rain at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
(Mark Konezny-Imagn Images)
Those comments, however, have not been universally accepted. Former teammate C. J. Gardner-Johnson and longtime Eagles reporter Reuben Frank have both pushed back. Frank argued that the Eagles‘ struggles were not solely on Hurts, pointing instead to broader offensive struggles, including inconsistencies from play-caller Kevin Patullo.
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“That, and I would never consider a Super Bowl MVP quarterback who has strong feelings about what the offense should look like a negative,” he added. “Don’t we want a decisive, strong-willed guy running the show? Would you prefer a quarterback that doesn’t have strong opinions about what plays he’s running? Also, it strikes me as really shady for anybody who has a Super Bowl ring thanks largely to Jalen Hurts to criticize him. He’s not good enough for you? Give the darn ring back. That’s all I’ve got on that.”
While reports of Hurts pushing back on coaching decisions are not new, labeling him as “uncoachable” may be overstated. After all, he has led Philadelphia to two Super Bowl appearances. In 10 playoff games, he owns a 93.4 passer rating with 1,981 yards, 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
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Over the past five seasons, Hurts ranks first in win percentage (.718), fifth in total yards (20,030), third in total touchdowns (164) and 10th in interception rate (0.018) among quarterbacks who have played more than one season. He has also earned three Pro Bowl selections, won two NFC Championships, made two Super Bowl appearances and captured one Super Bowl MVP award.
That said, there are legitimate critiques. Hurts has at times leaned conservative in his decision-making, a factor that has led Philadelphia to rank near the bottom of the league in passing production over the past two seasons.
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the recent reporting may serve as a message from within the organization.
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“The Eagles want the starting quarterback to understand that he isn’t immune from the possibility of being replaced,” he wrote.
Regardless of intent, the pressure is unmistakable. Philadelphia remains one of the most demanding markets in sports, and playing quarterback for the Eagles comes with constant scrutiny. Hurts will need to meet expectations in 2026, or the noise surrounding him will only grow louder.
Related: Eagles Projected to Add 1,000-Yard WR for Jalen Hurts
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.