It's been an offseason of change for Jalen Hurts, both on the football field and off.
Back home in Texas, Hurts' father retired after nearly 20 years of leading Channelview High School's football team. One of the players Averion Hurts Sr. coached? His son, Jalen.
"I think I got a unique perspective to the game itself because I'm a coach's kid," Hurts told reporters after a June minicamp practice. "The principles that he instilled into me ... those are things that I carry along with me today. The determination, resilience, work ethic and effort, and doing something because you love to do it."
Hurts' principles have gotten him to the player he is today – a Super Bowl MVP, a second-team All-Pro, and a three-time Pro Bowl selection. An impressive resume for a quarterback who had to adapt to five different play callers in just six years.
"Everybody has (been) dealt their own set of cards. Mine has been dealing with change, and I've made the most of that," Hurts said.
"When you are such a focused individual and you have to focus on all the different things that are changing, that's something that you have to manage. And so I've done that and accepted the pieces and the situations that have come because it has truly been about winning."
Hurts enters his seventh NFL season with his sixth offensive coordinator. Green Bay Packers Quarterbacks Coach Sean Mannion was appointed to the role this offseason. A former NFL quarterback himself, Mannion has been in Hurts' cleats before.
"I'm focused on this offense. I'm focused on building with Sean and being at my best," Hurts said. "Fluency is important. So being able to build with one language and grow within that, that opportunity excites me."
There is reason for Hurts to be excited in the new offense. The signal caller will have a lot of new toys to play with this season.
In the 2026 NFL Draft, the Eagles used their first-round pick on University of Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon. In 2025, the true junior won the Fred Biletnikoff Award, recognizing Lemon as the most outstanding receiver in college football.
The Eagles followed up the selection of the dynamic receiver with Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers in the second round. Stowers' vertical jump was recorded at 45.5 inches, the highest ever by a tight end in combine history and the second highest by any player since 2003. Stowers was awarded the John Mackey Award (given to college football's best tight end) and was a unanimous All-American in 2025.
Veteran receiver Hollywood Brown joined the team in free agency as well, adding even more speed to the wide receiver room. The Eagles also brought in a familiar face for Mannion by trading for Dontayvion Wicks from the Packers. During June minicamp, Wicks said that he and Jalen Hurts have been building their chemistry this offseason.
"We're working. I think everything starts with that," Hurts said about the new receiver room. "Whether it's a new (corps), new unit, or a new offense, it's about jelling, putting the time together, building that chemistry, coming together, and pushing forward."
It's not all new for Hurts. He has two of his favorite targets in the passing game to fall back on – wide receiver DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert.
"It carries over. I've played with (Smith) since I was 17, 18 years old, so that's something to consider when you think about chemistry and the foundation of where we come from," Hurts said. "Having his presence has always been very valuable, I've always appreciated that and I think as he leads and as I lead, it's just about putting those things together and continuing to improve given all the change that we have in front of us."
For Hurts, comfort comes with repetition. There has been a lot of work this offseason in implementing the new offensive scheme in the film room and meetings. While players were able to get their first taste of the system during OTAs and minicamp, the real test will come in Training Camp.
"Thought it was a really good spring, being able to onboard another new system and put everything together, lay the foundation," Hurts said. "I'm encouraged by the work that we were able to put in. We've got a fun summer ahead of us, and it'll be a fun training camp." - Written by Caroline Connor
