Jalen Hurts is going to be quite motivated for the 2024 season after the Philadelphia Eagles went from the best record in the NFL to a first round playoff exit this past year.
Following a Super Bowl appearance, there were tremendous expectations for Hurts and the Eagles. Getting to 10-1, they seemingly were ready to match those expectations.
But with a season-ending collapse and struggling play all around, ESPN’s Adam Schefter thinks Hurts will take that “personally.” Sounds Michael Jordan-Last Dance-like doesn’t it?
“I don’t know, I would imagine, I don’t know whether it’s Tom House or whoever it is that after a season like last season, I mean, we know he’s as competitive as anybody,” Schefter said on 97.5 The Fanatic. “I think that you take a season like that personally, and you kind of dedicate your offseason to making sure it doesn’t happen again. What that means, who he hires, I don’t know that specifically, but I’d be really surprised if he’s not putting in extra work this offseason to be better next season.”
Schefter referred to House, whom Hurts worked with prior to the 2022 season, where he was second in MVP voting to Patrick Mahomes. That year, he finished with 3,701 yards, 22 touchdowns, six interceptions, a 66.5% completion percentage, 760 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.
While he put up similar numbers in 2023, the turnovers were more of a problem. Hurts had 3,858 yards, 23 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, a 65.4% completion percentage, 605 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
Upon retirements of franchise stalwarts Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox, Hurts might be expected to take on a larger leadership role. So far, the Eagles addressed needs in free agency on defense with pass rusher Bryce Huff and brought back defensive back CJ Gardner-Johnson.
On the flip side, they extended guard Landon Dickerson and signed running back Saquon Barkley, giving Philadelphia quite the dynamic duo in the backfield.
It’s no secret the Eagles didn’t play as well as their record indicated at one point. Then losing six of their last seven games, including a Wild Card loss, resulted in two coordinator changes and serious questions of how they could bounce back.
But if Schefter’s report is any indication, Hurts and the Eagles plan to go full throttle to remain in their Super Bowl window in 2024.