NFL fans are fighting back strongly, accusing ESPN writers Jeremy Fowler and Tim McManus of an unfair portrayal of quarterback Jalen Hurts. The report has clearly touched a raw nerve, especially in how it portrayed Hurts as “un-coachable,” which many believe is inaccurate. This characterization of Hurts has already sparked outrage, not only in Philadelphia but throughout the NFL fanbase. The criticism did not end there, as the report also placed a large portion of blame on Hurts for the Philadelphia Eagles’ poor offensive performance last season. As a result, these criticisms did not sit well with NFL analyst Pat McAfee, who let out an outburst against the anonymous sources for calling out Hurts.

“Jalen Hurts has had a lot of success in this league, and I don’t quite get it..,” wrote former punter Pat McAfee on X. “I don’t love when people use anonymous sources to talk about somebody and their character.”

In 2024, Hurts led the Eagles to a Super Bowl win and was named Super Bowl LIX MVP. Since getting drafted by the Eagles in 2020, he has been nothing short of elite for the franchise. But after just one bad season, there seems to be no end to the criticisms. But McAfee has taken a stand for the quarterback. He specifically mentioned that people have gotten way too comfortable in speaking ill of franchise quarterbacks.

NFL Insiders often use “anonymous sources,” but that is for breaking news, not for attacking anyone. According to The Pat McAfee Show host, it is “cowardly” reporting, done specifically to tarnish Hurts’ name. Surprisingly, the news came right after the NFL Annual League Meeting, so one cannot help but think that it is being done intentionally to shift the focus. Moreover, the former NFL punter also believes that there is no point in being anonymous. Unlike politics or other serious issues, people won’t be threatening to take lives. So, these sources should be revealed.

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Even ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes that the media is taking apart someone who has had a “lot of success in the league.” But criticising an elite quarterback is pretty common in the NFL. In 2022, two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson had to go through something similar. A report revealed that an anonymous source has claimed the Baltimore Ravens‘ QB to be “inconsistent” as a thrower. Even the Kansas City Chiefs‘ quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, has faced such issues. But it is not entirely bad for Hurts since McAfee has his back.

While it is great to see him raising his voice against the anonymous sources, there is still a question surrounding Jalen Hurts. Can a bad season lead to so much drama? Well, there’s more about him than just one season.

Why is Jalen Hurts facing so much criticism?

Jalen Hurts did not have a season to remember in 2025. His 7.1 yards per attempt marked a career low. That is not all. His 64.8% pass completion was his worst mark in four years. The dual-threat athlete also set a career low in carries with 105 and rushed for 421 yards. He was one of the contributors to the Eagles‘ poor performance. The franchise averaged 22.3 points per game (19th), 311.2 total yards per game (24th), and 116.9 rushing yards per game (18th). It is the worst record under Nick Sirianni’s era.

As a result, offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo was fired, and Sean Mannion replaced him. Surprisingly, the All-Pro quarterback has never had the same play-caller for two seasons. In 11 seasons, in college and professional football, he always had a new offensive coordinator every season. This led to the critics calling him “not the most coachable” guy in the NFL.

“Poor body language, not always bought in, not the most coachable and the players notice,” a team source told ESPN.

From disregarding offensive schemes to changing play calls to an excessive degree, the quarterback has been charged with several things. But the most shocking complaint against him is that he called the “Four Verticals” play against the San Francisco 49ers. It was the Wild Card Round game, and just over 40 seconds were left. A touchdown would ensure the Eagles go to the next round. On the second-to-last play, they ran the “Four Verticals.”

A team source revealed that it was Hurts who decided to repeat the same tactics on the last play as well. Unfortunately, this time, the Niners were ready with three defenders to shut down the tight end Dallas Goedert. The Eagles lost possession, ultimately failing to defend their Super Bowl. The game ended 23-19 in favor of the 49ers, with the Eagles suffering a home loss.

Last season, even wide receiver A.J. Brown had issues with him. The WR mentioned that passes were not coming his way. It highlighted that Hurts is not popular among his teammates as well. Now, all these issues are coming together. It remains to be seen how things will go for Jalen Hurts going forward. Will the Eagles see another failed offensive coordinator? Will Hurts finally break his 11-year streak? The upcoming days have all the answers.