Multiple reports surfaced during the ongoing offseason suggesting that quarterback Jalen Hurts was “the source of much internal frustration” for at least some people within the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2025 campaign.
Coming off the Eagles’ wild-card playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, former Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion is now serving as Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator. During a Tuesday appearance on the ESPN “Get Up” program, Hall of Fame quarterback and “Monday Night Football” commentator Troy Aikman made it clear that he believes Hurts can thrive in Mannion’s offense later this year.
Troy Aikman is still a big-time Jalen Hurts believer
“I believe Jalen can do anything that he’s asked to do,” Aikman said during the segment, per Anthony Miller of Inside the Iggles.
Back in the spring of 2023, Hurts signed a five-year contract extension reportedly worth up to $255M with $179.3M guaranteed. He was later named the Most Valuable Player for Super Bowl LIX after the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in February 2025.
However, questions about Hurts’ long-term future with the Eagles are again generating discussions on sports-talk programs after he received blame for poor performances produced by the Philadelphia offense throughout the 2025 season. Some members of the NFL community think that 2026 fifth-round pick Cole Payton could be viewed as an eventual replacement for Hurts in Philadelphia.
Why Troy Aikman isn’t giving up on Jalen Hurts
Aikman noted how Hurts endured a rough outing in the first playoff start of his career, a 31-15 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that took place in January 2022.
“It was Jalen’s first year as a starter,” Aikman recalled. “They did not play well in that game offensively. They really struggled, and they needed to be better throwing the football. And the very next year, it was remarkable the turnaround that we saw from that passing game and from Jalen Hurts. What that proved to me is he’s a quarterback that puts in the time to do everything he can to be his best, and so whatever he’s been challenged with this offseason, I fully expect him to come out and play the kind of football that we’re accustomed to seeing him play.”
Hurts is cemented atop the Eagles’ depth chart this spring. Meanwhile, Philadelphia reportedly may soon trade wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots after his working relationship with Hurts allegedly worsened over the past couple of seasons.
That said, rumors about Philadelphia making a significant change at the sport’s most important position will likely grow only louder before the next league year opens in March 2027 if Hurts fails to play better under Mannion than what the signal-caller gave the 2025 Eagles.