Jalen Hurts gets support from Nick Sirianni as questions swirl about the NFL QB hierarchy

USA Today

15-07-2025

Well, at least we can always count on Nick Sirianni.
We have not yet reached a league-wide consensus regarding Jalen Hurts' standing among his NFL peers. It's tough to accept, but there is a possibility that we may never reach a consensus. Even leading the Philadelphia Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances hasn't resolved this uncertainty, prompting us to question whether common ground will ever be achieved.
Keep in mind. This is the reigning Super Bowl MVP, yet every time we see rankings or discussions, many say the same thing. Hurts is a worse quarterback than rookies and guys who can't seem to beat him.
Take, for instance, ESPN's recent series, penned by Jeremy Fowler. He spoke with NFL executives, coaches, and scouts about the game's top signal-callers and pieced together a top-ten list based on his findings. Smoke cleared. Dust settled. Guess where Jalen Hurts landed. He was ranked ninth...
Among the nine players slotted ahead of him were Justin Herbert and Jayden Daniels. We're reminded constantly that Herbert has all of the tools, but he's never won a playoff game.
Daniels has been ranked ahead of Jalen Hurts before, but he's 0-2 vs. Hurts in games when both started and finished the contest. That includes Daniels' loss in the most recent NFC Championship Game.
It seems the Jalen Hurts disrespect is a constant stream of negativity with no end in sight. To make matters worse, theories swirl that he was carried to a championship by elite teammates and superior coaching, as if he had contributed nothing to the win. Fear not. That idea was blown to smithereens by the man you would most expect to do so.
Nick Sirianni ends the latest audacious Jalen Hurts claim
There's only one Nick Sirianni. That's probably a good thing for everyone outside of the Eagles organization. What on Earth would we ever do with two, except maybe win a couple more Super Bowls?
Coach is one of a kind. He's uniquely authentic and willing to run through a wall for his players without a helmet. Recently, he aimed at an overworked theory, that Hurts is nothing more than a game manager whose success is born from being surrounded by superior weaponry.
'Yeah... That's bull---' That's a direct quote from Philly's leader, one offered to NBC Sports Philadelphia's Reuben Frank. As Roob states, Hurts isn't someone who can simply be measured in passing yards, passer rating, or touchdowns. Sirianni continued:
'I mean, he plays the most important position in all sports, and it's the most ultimate team game there is. And what I admire about him is his selflessness of doing anything we need to do to win... You name me a team that wins and wins consistently that doesn't have good players around you. Like, you name me a coach that doesn't have good players around him that wins. Like, you don't win with bad players, and it's the same thing you don't win with bad players as you're a quarterback either."
So, back to our question. How can Jalen Hurts possibly be the NFL's ninth-best quarterback? Based on the resume alone, debate continues to rage. Fowler's story birthed some of this discussion, but it also offers some of the necessary praise..
"Hurts' status is cemented. He's a Super Bowl winner who plays big in big moments. He's the most potent short-yardage quarterback rusher in NFL history. His streak of four consecutive seasons with 10 or more rushing touchdowns is the league's longest ever for a passer.
He's also one of the game's most accurate passers, ranking first in completion percentage over expected (+6.6). And he throws a beautiful deep ball. That touchdown pass to Devonta Smith in Super Bowl LIX was a Superdome-sized work of art."
If you're a Hurts supporter (which we assume most of you are) and frustrated, don't fret. You aren't alone. I assure you, some of us get it. He has received early MVP backing from a national writer, so here's a recommendation to help reduce the desire to throw fits.
Understand that this is part of the deal for an NFL quarterback. Jalen Hurts possesses the temperament needed to excel, though. He'll keep winning. He'll continue to score touchdowns, both rushing and passing. His critics will keep moving the goalposts, and when it comes down to theories and analysis, remember what Coach Sirianni told you.
'It's a team game. Yeah, that always bothers me, to be honest with you, when it's talked about because it's football.' We all hear you, Coach! If we're being honest, Jalen Hurts could win three more Super Bowls. Nothing will ever be good enough.