There is a lot of conversation around who the Philadelphia Eagles should hire as their new offensive coordinator after removing Kevin Patullo from the role.
One part of the conversation is that some believe that, depending on who they hire, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts could limit the offense from reaching its full potential. Some of Hurts's limitations have been that he has difficulty with complex offenses.
While making his weekly appearance on SportsRadio 94 WIP in Philadelphia, former Eagles legend Jason Kelce was not a fan of that being part of the conversation. Kelce adds some insights into Hurts while shutting down that narrative.
"I don't believe that the narrative out there that Jalen Hurts can't do these things," Kelce said via SportsRadio 94 WIP. "I know that is one of them. I think that great coaches find ways to get guys to play. I've played with Jalen. I've seen him do a lot of really difficult things, and I've seen him grow as a player, and I think Jalen is a guy that responds really well to an authoritative figure pushing him."
Jason Kelce goes to bat for Jalen Hurts
If anything, Hurts has proven over the years that he can adapt to any offensive system he plays in. Since 2016, Hurts has had only one play caller stay more than one year in that role: Shane Steichen in 2021 and 2022.
In terms of actual limitations, yes, as a passer, he does have some limitations. That has been well documented throughout his career.
There are no limitations to his football IQ, as he has proven to be smart. Not only does he continue to learn a new system every season, but when he is on the field, he makes smart decisions with the plays he's given and will rarely put the ball in harm's way.
What the next offensive coordinator needs to do is make sure he uses all of Hurts' skill sets, not just some. The Eagles' offense is much better when he can run the ball rather than just hand it off to Saquon Barkley or throw from the pocket.
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This next offensive coordinator hire could end up being the most important for the franchise in the Nick Sirianni era. If this one doesn't work out, there will be large questions about not only Sirianni but also Hurts.