Let's make it clear: 2026 is Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts' year to prove all the haters wrong, and he's not screwing around.
All offseason, Eagles fans heard all the negative reports about Hurts from last year not being coachable and changing his plays, as well as all the quarterback rankings dropping him below the bottom half of the league. Eagles starting left tackle Jordan Mailata shared what he is seeing in Hurts this time around, with a little more motivation for him.
“I see a fire lit again," Mailata said via NBC's John Clark. "And he is probably going to deny it. I think he’s coming here with a new hunger. You can see it on the field. You can see it in the classroom. You see it how vocal he is leading with confidence.”
Jalen Hurts has the fire to have a monster 2026 season with Eagles
Hurts won't admit it, but he couldn't have gone through the offseason without hearing about the negative reports and the doubters yelling about him. It doesn't help that his own franchise did not offer him any contract extension, which adds more motivation for him.
While it feels like the 2026 season is a year that Hurts has to prove himself, he really doesn't. Three Pro Bowl selections, two Super Bowl appearances, one Super Bowl win, and a Super Bowl MVP should be more than enough for people to realize that he is a good quarterback in the NFL.
Accomplishing all of that, as well as winning 68% of his regular season starts, is not enough for people to criticize the star quarterback. Many question whether he will be able to transition into new Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion's offense, which calls more plays under center, more throws in the middle of the field, and may require more Hurts runs.
All Hurts has done over the years is show that, even with seven different play-callers in seven years, he can adapt to any offensive scheme. He doesn't get nearly enough credit for his play, since he is "limited" as a quarterback, according to the experts.
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The more people doubt Hurts, the more he shows on the field that he is ready to be the guy in the offense. 2026 feels like the year he might be able to prove his worth without his top receiver, A.J. Brown, in the building, after his trade, as a way to show he doesn't need him to be successful.
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