Donovan McNabb sticks up for Jalen Hurts, shares advice for Eagles quarterback

One Philadelphia Eagles quarterback is sticking up for another.

Current Eagles signal-caller Jalen Hurts has been on the receiving end of his fair share of criticism after a disappointing 2023 season, with some even calling his leadership style into question. Former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb isn't trying to hear that, though, and he's here to stick up for Hurts while also offering some advice to the young quarterback.

"It's lazy when [critics are] talking about, 'He needs to be more animated, more vocal,'" McNabb said of Hurts, via CBS Sports. "And it's like, wait a minute, you want your leaders to be rah-rah, head-banging guys that are bouncing around, but if they're not winning, you're gonna say, 'Well he's not a leader, he's not a guy that people listen to.'

"Now you've got a guy who just eight, nine months ago was in the Super Bowl," he added. "And everybody was talking about how great a leader he is -- 'He's a little stoic but people love following him, love his interviews, blah, blah, blah.' Now all of a sudden they're losing and people are upset. I think for Jalen: Continue to be yourself. And while you're being yourself, continue to work on your craft."

McNabb knows a thing or two about receiving -- and dealing -- with criticism as quarterback of the Eagles, so if Hurts is going to take advice from anyone, it might as well be McNabb.

A restart for Hurts

After a rough end to the season for both Hurts and Philadelphia's offense as a whole, the Eagles have been far from complacent. Offensive coordinator Brian Johnson was relieved of his duties and replaced with Kellan Moore, and the team added dynamic running back Saquon Barkley at the onset of free agency.

These moves should help Hurts to get back on track and have a bounce back season in 2024 -- or a "restart" as McNabb called it.

"I think for Jalen it's really just a restart," McNabb said of Hurts. "Obviously a new offense, a new offensive coordinator in Kellen Moore coming in. I'm sure he's gonna work with him individually and make sure they're on the same page. And maybe he'll get a chance to put up some of those Dak Prescott numbers that Kellen was a part of [in Dallas]."

After the additions made this offseason, expectations are going to be sky high for Philadelphia's offense next season, and the pressure will be on Hurts to deliver. Let's see how he responds.