Jalen Hurts has never been one to shy away from admitting he’s aware of the narratives that include his name. It’s unclear how much the opinions of analysts, hosts, and writers hold weight with the veteran quarterback, but NFL legend Peyton Manning recently revealed that Hurts felt a type of way when he was snubbed from a top-five list put together by the NFL Hall of Famer.
During his segment at Fanatics Fest, Manning made it clear he wouldn’t reveal his top five quarterbacks currently, due to Hurts’ reaction to the last time he did.
“I named five guys, and Jalen Hurts texted me like 20 minutes later, ‘I didn’t make your list?’ Now, Jalen’s mad at me. So, no list today,” Manning said to a room full of laughter. “I’m a quarterback fan. I know how hard it is to play. So, I pull hard for quarterbacks. No list this year.”
While that could mean Manning might not view Hurts as a top-five quarterback in the NFL once again, the veteran could also just be looking to save himself from another angry listener.
The former scenario wouldn’t be anything new to Hurts, who continues to battle negative narratives even after winning the game at the highest level back in February.
Statistically, Hurts had a down year during the 2024 NFL season. He threw for just 2,903 yards, marking the first time he had under 3,000 yards since his rookie season in 2020. He also tossed fewer than 20 touchdowns for the first time in two seasons.
While Hurts was far from perfect, the Eagles also relied heavily on their run game after acquiring the MVP-caliber running back, Saquon Barkley. It turned out to be the right move throughout the year, as Barkley put together an MVP-worthy season and was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
When it came to playoff time, Hurts was challenged to put his arm to the test, and he delivered better than ever. In four playoff games, including the Super Bowl, Hurts completed 71 percent of his passes for a playoff career-high 726 yards. He threw for five touchdowns and just one interception. Hurts also rushed for 194 yards and scored five times on the ground.
The outside opinions about Hurts’ game might just turn out to be bulletin board material the quarterback can stash and put away as something he can reference back to when he needs added motivation during the regular season. No need to bring it up to anybody.
When it comes to Manning, maybe that opinion holds a little more weight. After all, Manning is one of the most notable quarterbacks to get under center.
The former first-overall pick in 1998 won the NFL MVP award five times. He was a two-time Super Bowl Champion and has a Super Bowl MVP victory on his resume, like Hurts. Whether Manning believes Hurts is a top QB this time around or not, the Eagles’ veteran can still enter the 2025 NFL season with plenty of confidence as he’s got a title to defend.
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