Preparing to work under a fourth offensive coordinator as he enters his fifth season, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said he is excited but also expressed his desire for consistency in the coaching ranks.
“I find myself in a situation very similar to college in terms of having a constantly revolving door in terms of coordinators and coaches,” Hurts told reporters Wednesday. “But I’ve always managed to have success in it, so that’s always been a good thing, because you’ve been able to learn from people and apply it.”
Kellen Moore is the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator this season, replacing Brian Johnson, who was fired after the offense struggled down the stretch. Following a 10-1 start, Philadelphia dropped six of its last seven before losing in an NFC wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In his four college seasons (three at Alabama, one at Oklahoma), Hurts had a different playcaller every year. It wasn’t until 2021-22 that Hurts had the same coordinator for consecutive seasons, when now-Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen held the role.
“I think as a player, I definitely yearn for the sustainability and the consistency there,” Hurts said. “As a quarterback, I yearn for those things in a playcaller and a quarterback coach because you kind of see how consistency in those areas can breed excellence,”
Under Steichen’s tutelage, Hurts led the Eagles to an appearance in Super Bowl LVII and finished second in MVP voting in 2022.
When Steichen left for Indianapolis, Johnson was promoted from QB coach to offensive coordinator, but he, Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni reportedly didn’t see eye to eye.
“I think the best of him. He’s been a huge part of my development in my time here as an Eagle,” Hurts said of Johnson, a longtime family friend who is now the Washington Commanders’ assistant head coach/offensive pass game coordinator.
As for working with Moore, Hurts said he’ll soak it all in and be ready to adjust when it comes to the new coordinator’s game plan.
“I’m just all ears. I’m a sponge. I think there’s some beauty in that,” Hurts said. “I’m just in sponge mode. I’m letting them do what it is they’re going to do, and then we kind of adjust from there. I think the thing that we all have to understand is the importance of a foundation in something.
“So I want the coaches to declare their foundation in terms of what they want something to be, how they want it to look, and then obviously you’re going to adjust from there.”
–Field Level Media
