As the NFL Playoffs wear on, a Vince Lombardi Trophy is on the line, but so are players' legacies. As the Philadelphia Eagles enter the Divisional Round, we have thought about everyone from Jalen Hurts to Donovan McNabb. The former certainly doesn't want a legacy that mirrors that of the latter.
McNabb led Philly to eight consecutive playoff appearances and five NFC Conference Championship games, but he only had one Super Bowl appearance to show for it.
And, Philly lost that game.
Like Hurts, McNabb was a dual threat, adept at both running and passing. He also carried himself with the cool cowboy gunslinger demeanor that Hurts maintains. Donovan fell short in a few areas though. Most would disagree, but if you ask Terrell Owens, he might say '5' lacked leadership. We saw statistical production but at best a very borderline Hall of Fame resume.
McNabb's career is impressive statistically. He was only the fourth NFL quarterback in history to throw for over 30,000 passing yards (37,276) and amass 200 touchdowns (234) while also rushing for over 3,000 yards (3,459) and 20 touchdowns (29).
We love Hurts for his laser focus and stoicism, but he'll ultimately be remembered for the games he won. That transforms great football payers into icons.
Does Jalen Hurts need to match the competitive fire of legends who have preceded him, or does he just channel his differently?
There's an old Troy Aikman clip if you are willing to find it. It's one of Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys legend Troy Aikman marching the sidelines and barking at coaches. He was furious because they weren't holding players accountable for their subpar performances.
Former New England Patriots quarterback legend Tom Brady never shied away from calling out coaches and teammates. Brady and Aikman have won 10 Super Bowls between them.
Brady once said that his role as a leader was to make the rest of the team as “uncomfortable” as possible. “I look at so many of these young athletes who are never forced to go outside their comfort zone,”
That quote comes from an interview with Fortune Magazine. “They’re told how great they are their whole life… Part of my role as a leader was to make these guys feel uncomfortable, even how great they were. I was always focused on making sure they were working harder than they thought they can work.”
Might this be the type of fire that Hurts and McNabb needed? Are they already these types of leaders and NFL Films doesn't capture those moments on camera as often? We don't need Hurts to throw a Microsoft Surface tablet or anything, but what will it take for him to be mentioned guys like Brady and Aikman?
Jalen has leapfrogged McNabb in the record books a few times. He now has more career games in which he has scored a rushing and passing touchdown than the Eagles Hall of Famer, but let's be frank. This fan base is hungry for another Super Bowl win.
Jalen Hurts is statistically superior
Jalen Hurts has often been criticized for his demeanor. Some say he lacks passion. That isn't true. He, like McNabb, does like to let his play do the talking (although 5 tended to be vocal on the field). Jalen's style is working though. His numbers send a clear message.
He finished the season with the best career passing rating (103.7). He has kept drives alive with his legs. 18 times, he has scored rushing TDs by way of the 'Brotherly Shove'
Leadership is a critical component of the winning formula. There are no complaints of Hurts in that regard. He has taken the Eagles to the playoffs in all four seasons he has been the starter, and he has already appeared in a Super Bowl.
We just want to see him get there again and win the next one.
With last week’s 22-10 win over Green Bay, Hurts is now 3-3 in the playoffs. He seems intent on showing he can reach football's biggest game with regularity. This season, he became only the fifth quarterback since 1950 to piece together three 10-game regular-season winning streaks.
John Elway, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes are the other four.
Since the NFL’s inception, the quarterback position has been a leader on and off the field. As Philly heads into choppier waters, Philly has their guy. Now, they need more out of him, more than they received or ever asked of McNabb. Jalen has the ability to surpass 5 and become one of the greatest QBs this franchise has ever seen.