Jalen Hurts is dealing with growing criticism inside the Philadelphia Eagles locker room, but Jason Kelce is not buying into the idea that it’s a serious problem. Reports of internal frustration and questions about Hurts’ leadership have surfaced following the team’s offensive regression last season.
But Kelce made it clear that he believes the situation is being overblown and tied more to losing than any real divide within the team. As per multiple sources, concerns about Hurts’ role in the offense and his relationship with teammates have intensified after a disappointing year. Kelce also called out the Lions recently for something very controversial.
Kelce, though, pushed back on that narrative during a recent appearance and suggested the timing of the criticism is no coincidence. The former Eagles center addressed the situation on The Pat McAfee Show, offering a strong defense of his former quarterback while acknowledging the noise surrounding him.
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Jason Kelce Dismisses Locker Room Concerns Around Jalen Hurts
“I know there’s a story about Jalen Hurts that came out earlier this week or last week,” Kelce said. “I think that, my overall thing is that, especially with Jalen, what quarterback doesn’t wanna run their stuff?”
Kelce emphasized that disagreements or differing opinions within an offense are not unusual, especially for quarterbacks who naturally want control over how things operate. He suggested that what is now being framed as a problem has existed in some form for years without causing alarm.
“This has kind of been a semblance of things that have been coming out over multiple years,” Kelce added. “But all of the sudden now, it’s reached this point where there’s however many sources in there.”
Kelce pointed directly to the team’s struggles as the reason the narrative has gained traction. In his view, similar traits are often praised when a team is winning but criticized when results slip.
“I think it’s very coincidental that it comes when the season and everything don’t go the way they want,” he said. “The reality is, sometimes these things that are weaknesses when you’re losing, sometimes people view the strength when you’re winning.”
He also pointed out the amount of change Hurts has had to deal with and expressed confidence that the quarterback will respond positively moving forward. “I think that kid’s been through a lot… there’s going to be a drastically different offense in Philadelphia… This is a big year for him… I feel pretty confident about the Eagles this coming season.”
The scrutiny surrounding Hurts comes after a sharp decline in the Eagles’ offensive production. Just one season after ranking eighth in total offense and winning Super Bowl LIX, the unit dropped to No. 24, averaging 311.2 yards per game.
Hurts still put up respectable numbers, throwing for 3,224 yards with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. However, he was sacked 32 times, and the offense often looked stagnant, especially in critical moments.
Philadelphia still managed to reach the playoffs, but their run ended quickly with a wild-card loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The disappointing finish only intensified questions about what went wrong.
The team responded by making a significant coaching change. Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo was fired after just one season, with Sean Mannion brought in as his replacement in January.
Kelce is not alone in defending Hurts. Former NFL quarterback Cody Kessler also rejected the idea that the quarterback was responsible for the offense’s struggles.
Speaking on The Arena: Gridiron, Kessler placed the blame squarely on the coaching staff, particularly Patullo’s system and play-calling. “He (Kevin Patullo) was the main issue,” Kessler said. “The offense was stagnant. There was no shifts or motions. We’re getting up to the line of scrimmage too late.”
Kessler dismissed criticism of Hurts’ decision-making, arguing that the quarterback was not put in a position to succeed. “People are arguing that Jalen Hurts isn’t making the right checks, bulls**t,” he said. “He doesn’t have any time to make those checks and dissect what the defense is doing because we’re getting the play call in too late.”
Hurts’ future with the franchise could hinge on how he responds in 2026. Despite signing a five-year, $233 million extension in 2023, reports suggest the team may hesitate to commit further if his performance does not improve.
Published: Apr 9, 2026 11:50 am