Key Points
Bullet point summary by AI
- The Philadelphia Eagles are counting on new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion to revitalize their stagnant offense in 2026.
- Jalen Hurts must adapt to Mannion's system, including more under-center snaps and pre-snap motion, or risk losing his starting job.
- The absence of star receiver A.J. Brown due to contract disputes further complicates Hurts' path to redemption this season.
Jalen Hurts is not the sort of transcendent quarterback that NFL franchises dream about building their offenses around. He is, however, talented enough to pilot the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl title. If the enigmatic signal-caller wants to elevate Philadelphia to those heights in 2026, he'll need to embrace new ideas for new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.
ESPN's recent piece detailing Hurts' issues within the building refers to next season as a "crossroads" for the former Alabama star. That's a stark fall for a player who led the team to a title back in 2024. Life does change quickly in the modern NFL, and Hurts now becoming a lightning rod for criticism in Philadelphia illustrates that reality to perfection.
The higher-ups in the organization clearly were not pleased with how the offense performed last year. To that end, they fired offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. Sean Mannion now has the responsibility of piloting Hurts and the Eagles offense. It's imperative that Hurts embrace the former Packers' staffer's new ideas if he wants to get his career with the Eagles back on track.
What does Sean Mannion want Jalen Hurts to change?
Mannion is not coming to Philadelphia to install an offense that's going to revolutionize the NFL. Instead, he'll be looking to build on the framework set by his predecessors. It's his job to craft an attack that can get the best out of Hurts and his unique skill set.
Specifically, Mannion is expected to ask Hurts to play under center more often. That's something the quarterback pushed back on doing last season under Patullo. It's safe to assume he won't be given the power to overrule Mannion in that regard after the offense's struggles in 2025.
Another change Eagles fans can expect to see on offense is the implementation of more pre-snap motion. That should work to Hurts' advantage. He can benefit from getting a better idea of what sort of coverages he's going to see before the ball goes into play. Increased motion from his wide receivers should force opposing secondaries to declare their intentions more often than they do against more conventional formations.
Will Jalen Hurts play better under Sean Mannion?
If Hurts is willing to embrace Mannion's offensive tweaks it should help the Eagles offense present more schematic challenges to opposing defenses. That's a big question mark given how Hurts has treated previous offensive coordinators. It's very possible he'll clash with Mannion and set up another high-profile offensive showdown in Philadelphia.
One other complicating factor for Hurts' success in 2026 is the stark reality that he'll likely be playing without the benefit of A.J. Brown on the outside. Hurts' unwillingness to be flexible is at least part of the reason that Brown is looking to play his football elsewhere. Hurts is not the only reason why the flamboyant wide receiver wants out, but he didn't do much to get his productive pass catcher in the fold.
If Brown is traded it's going to make it difficult for Hurts to improve his productivity in 2026 even if he fully buys into what Mannion is trying to sell as a coordinator. The combination of playing with less talented wide receivers under a relatively inexperienced offensive playcaller does not bode well for Hurts. He faces an uphill battle to strengthen his grip on the franchise's starting quarterback job after several years of stubbornness. That ultimately may be what causes Philadelphia to look elsewhere for answers at the game's most important position by the time the 2027 campaign commences.