JALEN HURTS Field General for the Philadelphia Eagles

As a die-hard Eagles fan, I’ve had it with the disrespect Jalen Hurts gets from the national media. Week after week, no matter how much he proves himself on the field, pundits find a way to diminish his accomplishments. It’s always some backhanded compliment or lazy narrative that misses the bigger picture of who Jalen Hurts really is—an elite quarterback, a born leader, and the franchise cornerstone the Eagles have been waiting for since No. 11 went off the rails.

I’m convinced Jalen Hurts is the ONLY quarterback in the NFL that has to play PERFECT, every damn game, in order to get the slightest bit of respect. #Eagles pic.twitter.com/eu0Lpm1AW4
— Tone II⚡️ (@deshields__) November 15, 2024

AMEN! Louder for the people in the back.

The worst part? Even when Hurts did everything the skeptics said he couldn’t—like nearly outdueling Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl—they shifted the goalposts. “He hasn’t done it long enough,” they said. Well, guess what? Hurts has been silencing doubters since he was benched at Alabama. He’s built for this. He doesn’t fold under pressure; he thrives in it.

Jalen Hurts isn’t the most talented. He’s not the fastest, doesn’t have the strongest arm, doesn’t have elite QB vision, his game isn’t the sexiest, but guess what, he WINS.

Last time I checked, this league is about WINS, LOSSES, & PRODUCTION.#Eagles #NFL pic.twitter.com/woQsuBDNko
— Tone II⚡️ (@deshields__) November 17, 2024

The Leadership Factor: Jalen Hurts is Built Different

Here’s where the national media really misses the mark: Jalen Hurts’ leadership. To dismiss it as some intangible, feel-good quality is to fundamentally misunderstand what makes him great. His leadership is the reason the Eagles are the juggernaut they are today. Talent is just part of the equation in football; the rest comes down to culture, accountability, and resilience. That’s where Hurts shines like no other.

Teammates don’t just play for Jalen Hurts; they believe in him. Lane Johnson, one of the most respected players in the league, has openly said he’d run through a wall for Hurts. Jason Kelce praised his unshakeable demeanor and work ethic. A.J. Brown calls him the calm in the storm. Do you know how hard it is to earn that kind of respect in a city like Philly, where the fans and players alike have zero patience for pretenders?

Happy Saturday! Please enjoy 59 minutes and 49 seconds of Jalen Hurts highlights 💚🦅 pic.twitter.com/7qzPqTAFil
— Sidelines - Eagles 🦅🏈 (@SSN_Eagles) June 15, 2024

FOR THE HATERS… JUST WATCH. PLAY AFTER PLAY.

It starts with Hurts’ work ethic. This man doesn’t just talk about getting better—he lives it. Every offseason, he’s grinding to improve his mechanics, his reads, and his leadership. He’s the first one in the facility and the last one out. And it’s not just lip service. When Hurts tells his teammates they need to be better, they know it’s coming from someone who holds himself to an even higher standard.

When Jalen Hurts squatted nearly 600 lbs ...

SHEESH 🤭💪 (via @ou_football) pic.twitter.com/VMlUeSmkTS
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 7, 2020

And let’s talk about his poise. Hurts doesn’t get rattled. Whether it’s a Monday Night Football showdown or the Super Bowl with the world watching, his demeanor never changes. That calmness trickles down to the entire team. When Hurts is on the field, the Eagles believe they’re in control—no matter the situation. That’s leadership you can’t teach.

The Standard.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/8hE6FN1YRR
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 12, 2022

But what really sets Hurts apart is his emotional intelligence. He understands people. He knows how to motivate without tearing down, how to hold others accountable without losing their trust. In an era where quarterbacks often fall into the trap of being too distant or too buddy-buddy, Hurts strikes the perfect balance. He’s not just the quarterback; he’s the leader.

One of my favorite examples of this came after the Eagles’ heartbreaking Super Bowl loss. Most players would’ve crumbled or pointed fingers. Not Hurts. He stood in front of the media and owned it, saying, “You either win or you learn.” That’s not just a great soundbite—it’s a philosophy. It’s why this team will always bounce back stronger with Hurts at the helm.

Look, you can measure a lot of things in football—yards, touchdowns, passer ratings—but you can’t quantify what Jalen Hurts brings as a leader. It’s why the Eagles are a Super Bowl contender now and for the foreseeable future. It’s why teammates trust him implicitly. And it’s why the city of Philadelphia has fully embraced him as the face of the franchise.

THE FINAL WORD

So, to the national media: Stop nitpicking and recognize greatness when it’s staring you in the face. Jalen Hurts isn’t a fluke, a “system QB,” or some flash-in-the-pan talent. He’s the real deal. He’s the engine driving the Eagles’ success, and he’s only getting started.

As for me, I’m tired of the disrespect. You can keep your tired takes and lazy narratives. I’m out here in Philly in the trenches everyday. I know exactly what we’ve got: a superstar quarterback who’s built to win, now and in the future. And, most importantly, a leader whose impact extends far beyond the box score.

Fly, Eagles, Fly.

P.S. If you are questioning why I, as an Eagles fan, have any business commenting on this situation here’s a stat line for you. Here’s every Quarterback I have watched play as a starter for the Eagles since I became a fan:

**** My mind was blown when I actually went through and listed this out which inspired a deeper dive into this *****

https://www.coachtothecouch.com/blog/mind-blowing-stats-on-eagles-starting-qbs-19852024

1985

Ron Jaworksi / Randall Cunningham

1986

Ron Jaworksi / Randall Cunningham/ Matt Cavanaugh

1987

Randall Cunningham / Scott Tinsley / Guido Merkens