People talking about Jalen Hurts is no surprise, but when a future Eagles Hall of Famer has high praise for you, maybe the Eagles franchise quarterback might listen to this latest "blurb".
Recently, in ESPN Eagles reporter Tim McManus' article, former Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins addressed his induction into the Eagles Hall of Fame, the recent criticism of the team, and, most importantly, the face of the franchise in Jalen Hurts.
Jenkins talked about Hurts as a leader and how he seems to be handling things so far in 2025.
"He's the one driving. He's got his hands on the wheels. He's looking for all of the hazards. He's the one getting us to the destination. And a lot of us are in the backseat complaining about how bumpy a ride is, how close we got to almost crashing. And really it's up to him to keep his focus and block it all out because he's in that position. And I think that's really what leadership is about, it's like, hey, if you're the one with the hands on the wheel, everybody's allowed an opinion, it's fine, but your focus has to be on the main thing, and that's getting us to where we're going," Jenkins said.
Despite all the adversity, Hurts is showing to be a true leader
The Eagles' 2025 season has been less than linear in the sense of accomplishing the "main thing" that Hurts had stated back in October. The franchise quarterback has dealt with less-than-stellar offensive line play, unhappy receivers, a regressing Saquon Barkley, and a first-time play caller.
However, despite everything against him, the Eagles have still managed to put together an 8-3 season atop the NFC East. Jenkins' comments and praise signify the growth of the signal caller, going from a second-round draft pick to now a face of the franchise. While the road to 8-3 hasn't been easy, the consistent Hurts has kept a steady hand at the wheel.
"I'm a big fan of Jalen," Jenkins said, "not only because of my personal relationship, but just because of what he stands for and understanding myself what it looks like to have a vision for a team, something that maybe not everybody sees, but I have to stand 10 toes down on it until everybody sees what I see."
Jenkins continued his praise of Hurts, noting his steadfast leadership of the team and his understanding of the vision for the team's move, despite others not being 100 percent on board with the franchise quarterback. While Jenkins acknowledges the criticism of Hurts, his support for him remains consistent, especially until everyone else sees what he sees.
Read more: Eagles fans are ready to deliver pink slip to failed experiment on defense
Hurts will have his next "primetime" opportunity to showcase his skill set with the Eagles' next matchup against the upstart Chicago Bears on Black Friday.