In the eyes of many, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is not elite. His untraditional approach to the game has consistently drawn criticism. Despite being crowned the 2025 Super Bowl MVP, Hurts remains underappreciated. With the Eagles crumbling in his absence, it's about time the 28-year-old is recognized as one of the NFL's premier talents.
The sporting world has pivoted to a style-over-substance approach. Winning seems to matter less than how entertaining a team's performance is -- especially in the NFL. Fans have a strange relationship with players who are born winners but don't dazzle them on the field. Hurts is penalized because of this ludicrous perspective.
During his seven seasons in the league, Hurts has a 62-35 record. Most importantly, he has led Philadelphia to two Super Bowls, winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy in one of those appearances. All he knows is winning, but for some people, that isn't enough. His style of play isn't for everyone, yet without it, his team struggles.
Jalen Hurts isn't just a player; he is the Eagles' system
Success has orbited the Eagles' quarterback in recent times. Hurts' two-way ability has created an offensive dynamic that few teams have been able to contain -- when coached correctly. For some bizarre reason, the Oklahoma alum's talent in running the ball has been weaponized against him throughout his career. Yet, it has become a devastating weapon for Philadelphia's offense.
Hurts has accumulated 3,661 career rushing yards. The run game was a key feature in Kellen Moore's championship-winning offense in 2024. While Saquon Barkley earned much of the praise for his explosive plays, Hurts' reads and improvisation kept opposing defenses guessing, giving his running back an extra second to identify and exploit gaps in the defensive line.
Unfortunately for Tanner McKee, he is a clear example of how much the Eagles rely on Hurts. The backup quarterback has lost all four appearances since his teammate was ruled out for the season with several blood clots in his lungs.
While the Eagles clearly have offensive line issues, McKee's uninspiring performances can't be solely attributed to that. And frankly, it's not his fault. Philadelphia's roster has been constructed around a versatile quarterback; McKee doesn't fit that mould. The opposition knows exactly how to limit McKee's production, as he doesn't possess Hurts' scrambling know-how. This only further proves how critical Hurts is to the organization. That's what led the Eagles to name Joe Milton III as the starting quarterback for their Week 9 game against the New York Giants.
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There are plenty of criticisms to level at Philadelphia, but questioning the quality of its quarterback shouldn't be one of them. Hurts has one job: leading his team to victory. How can anybody argue with a Super Bowl MVP? Hurts turns up in the biggest moments. When the light shines brightest, he knows how to perform. The Eagles' catastrophic performances in his absence should force analysts to start putting respect on his name.
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