There is no messing around in 2026 for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, as he has a ton that is on the line.
This offseason, Hurts faced all kinds of heat for his 2025 season after the Eagles finished with an 11-6 record and failed to win a playoff game coming off a Super Bowl title. Now the questions are starting to be asked about Hurts' future with the franchise and whether he has the skill set to be a quarterback in the NFL.
Sports Illustrated writer Eva Geitheim named five quarterbacks in the NFL who have the most at stake entering the 2026 season. Hurts made the list, as Geitheim named four items that Hurts has at stake for the new year.
- Securing a new contract extension
- Silencing the noise surrounding him as a player
- Proving he’s adaptable and can succeed in the new scheme
- Ensuring a talented Eagles squad doesn’t endure another one-and-done playoff disappointment.Â
Jalen Hurts has plenty to play for entering Eagles' 2026 season
There would be a lot of Eagles fans who would argue that Hurts has nothing to play for and should be secure in his spot. The man has won a Super Bowl, been Super Bowl MVP, played in two Super Bowls, won over 68% of his starts, and been to the Pro Bowl three times. His resume should be enough to put no pressure on him this season.
Unfortunately, last season was not Hurts' best season, but it was far from his worst. Many saw his accuracy go down, completing only 64% of his passes. Experts also pointed out that he was not aggressive enough and was more worried about protecting the football, finishing the year with just six interceptions, four of which came in one game.
That performance had NFL personnel believing he was the 17th-best quarterback in the NFL, but the players disagreed. They have Hurts ranked 56th overall as one of the top 100 players in the league entering the 2026 season.
All four of what was listed as being on the line for Hurts in 2026 are all fair. He needs to prove himself as a starting quarterback again, which would likely lead to a long-term contract if he plays well for the Eagles. Hurts also needs to show that he doesn't need A.J. Brown to carry him in the passing game and that he can win without him.
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It may not be fair for Hurts to have to fight for all of that when he might have already earned it, but that's the situation he is in. If anyone can silence the critics, it's Hurts. He's been here before and can handle it the best way he can: win.
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