At one point in the season, the Philadelphia Eagles looked like they were the real deal. This squad was coming off a heartbreaking Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and it seemed like they were well on their way to avenge that staggering defeat.
Except that they didn’t.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurst Did Not Handle Pressure Well
After a tremendous 2022-23 campaign, Philly rewarded superstar quarterback Jalen Hurts with a record-breaking new deal. This came out to the tune of $255 million for five years, which at that time, made Hurts’ $51 million per season the highest annual salary in league history.
That’s a lot of pressure to put on a young man’s shoulder. It’s hard to argue that Hurts did not deserve the big-money deal. However, according to long-time Eagles reporter Derrick Gunn, the 25-year-old superstar pretty much crumbled under the pressure.
Gunn reported that the massive deal “pulled Hurts in numerous directions on and off the field.” This put the weight of the world on his shoulders, which according to Gunn’s sources, Hurts was not able to “handle well.”
Hurts still had a Pro Bowl-worthy season and more often than not, he did look the part of the highest paid player in NFL history. However, there were also more than a few moments wherein Hurts failed to live up to the lofty expectations.
Perhaps the most staggering statistic for him is the fact that he threw a career-high 15 interceptions in 2023-24. He had six the previous season.
I guess the silver lining here is that Hurts has now gotten Year 1 out of the way. He wasn’t exactly a bust, but the Eagles will certainly expect more from their cornerstone quarterback this coming season.
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