At a Glance
- Jalen Hurts declined to endorse Kevin Patullo’s return as offensive coordinator
- Eagles’ offense never found its identity during the 2024 season
- Hurts says he trusts Howie Roseman, Nick Sirianni, and Jeffrey Lurie to decide
- Why it matters: The quarterback’s stance signals likely coaching changes ahead
Jalen Hurts spent the past year preaching the value of continuity at play-caller. One day after the Eagles’ 23-19 wild-card loss to the 49ers, he offered no such assurances for Kevin Patullo.
Speaking at locker clean-out, the quarterback was asked directly whether he wants Patullo back as offensive coordinator. Hurts punted.
“It’s too soon to think about that,” he said. “I put my trust in Howie, Nick and Mr. Lurie.”
A Season Without Identity
Philadelphia’s offense sputtered all year. The same issues that dogged them in September-slow starts, disjointed sequencing, no clear home base-ended their season in January.
Hurts swapped the word “identity” for “home base” on Monday, but the meaning stayed the same: the Eagles never discovered what they do best.
- Wild-card loss: 19 points, 1-for-3 in red zone
- Season trend: seven games under 20 points
- Rank: 17th in yards per play
Cycling Coordinators
Since 2021 the Eagles have rotated through play-callers while alternating between deep playoff runs and early exits:
| Year | OC | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Shane Steichen | Wild-card loss |
| 2022 | Shane Steichen | Super Bowl |
| 2023 | Brian Johnson | Wild-card loss |
| 2024 | Kevin Patullo | Super Bowl |
| 2025 | Kevin Patullo | Wild-card loss |
Hurts was asked how that turnover squares with finding continuity.
“The changes have not prevented us from having an opportunity to go on championship runs,” he said. “We’ve still found ourselves in the playoffs.”
He added: “Competitively, I don’t like the trend of wild-card, big-time, wild-card, big-time and then wild-card.”
Accepting Change
Hurts acknowledged that staff turnover is “inevitable” when expectations aren’t met. While he stopped short of blaming Patullo, he also didn’t offer a vote of confidence.
“I accept that those things come, whether expectations aren’t met or whether we’re making Super Bowl runs,” he said. “I’m not going to allow that to be an excuse for us not to make championship runs.”
A.J. Brown’s Future
The quarterback faced a similar question about star receiver A.J. Brown, who had a turbulent 2024 and was absent from the locker room Monday. Brown is under contract through 2026, but speculation swirls that he may have played his last snap in Philadelphia.
“A.J. and I have talked,” Hurts said. “We’re in a good, great place. Y’all can talk to him and ask.”
What Hurts Wants
Asked to describe his ideal offense, Hurts kept it simple: “I just want to win. You play the game to win championships.”
He cited cohesiveness, sequencing and “having a flow where everyone’s on the same page” as the missing ingredients this season.
When pressed on how much input he wants in offseason decisions, Hurts said his “line is always open” and that he’ll use his influence “for the betterment of the team.”
Key Takeaways
- Hurts’ refusal to back Patullo signals the coordinator is likely out
- The Eagles’ alternating playoff pattern under Nick Sirianni hinges on finding the right play-caller
- With an early exit in 2025, the front office faces pressure to break the wild-card/Super Bowl cycle
- Changes on offense appear imminent as the team enters a pivotal offseason
