It is 2026, and if you walk into any deli in South Philly, the conversation hasn't changed much in five years. You'll hear about the "tush push," the price of provolone, and, inevitably, Jalen Hurts.
Jalen Hurts is the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. He has been the face of the franchise since he took the reins from Carson Wentz back in late 2020. Honestly, it feels like a lifetime ago. Since then, No. 1 has become a pillar of the city, leading the team to a Super Bowl LIX victory where he snagged the MVP trophy. But even with a ring and a gold-plated resume, the "quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles" is a job title that comes with a permanent magnifying glass.
The 2025 season: A rollercoaster in midnight green
The recently wrapped 2025 season was... a lot.
The Eagles finished with an 11-6 record, which looks great on paper. They made the playoffs. Again. But that Wild Card loss to the San Francisco 49ers on January 11, 2026, left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth. The offense struggled to put up points, and suddenly, the sports talk radio lines were lit up.
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Hurts finished the regular season with 3,224 passing yards and 25 touchdowns against just 6 interceptions. Those are solid numbers. Top-ten material, basically. But for a guy who has set the bar as high as a Super Bowl MVP, fans always want more.
What the depth chart actually looks like right now
Behind Hurts, the room has some interesting faces. The Eagles have moved away from the "veteran mentor" phase (remember Marcus Mariota or Gardner Minshew?) and are leaning into youth.
- Tanner McKee: He's the clear QB2. He was a sixth-round find from Stanford back in 2023. He's big, he's got a cannon, and he actually started the final regular-season game against Washington while the starters rested.
- Sam Howell: This was a savvy move by GM Howie Roseman. Howell, the former Commanders starter, came over via trade from the Vikings last August. He hasn't seen the field much, but having a guy with his starting experience as a third-stringer is a luxury most teams don't have.
Why people keep debating Jalen Hurts
You’ve probably seen the headlines. Some analysts are worried. There’s chatter about the offensive coordinator situation—Kevin Patullo was just let go after the unit stalled out in the playoffs. It marks what could be Hurts' fifth coordinator in as many years. That's a lot of different voices in a quarterback's ear.
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Then there’s the "tush push." Every offseason, there are rumors the league might ban it. If they do, does Jalen lose his goal-line magic? He’s got 55 career rushing touchdowns, which is third-best in history for a QB. Take that away, and the Eagles' red-zone identity changes overnight.
The contract and the future
Basically, Hurts isn't going anywhere. He signed that massive $255 million extension a few years back, and his leadership is the glue in that locker room. Even when he’s "struggling" by his standards, he’s still finishing as a top-ten fantasy QB and winning games.
He’s 27 years old now. He’s in his prime. While the 2025 exit was ugly, the core of this team—Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, and Jalen Carter—is built to win right now.
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Actionable insights for Eagles fans
If you're tracking the Eagles this offseason, here is what actually matters:
- Watch the OC hire. Whoever the Eagles bring in to replace Patullo will determine if Hurts returns to that 2022-2024 MVP-caliber efficiency or stays in this "solid but safe" lane.
- The AJ Brown rumors. There is some noise about Brown's future in Philly. If the Eagles' top target moves on, Hurts' job gets significantly harder.
- Draft depth. Keep an eye on the late rounds of the draft. Roseman loves to stockpile developmental QBs, even with a franchise guy in place.
Jalen Hurts is the guy. He’s the winner. But in Philadelphia, the only way to keep the critics quiet is to do it all over again in February.