Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni had something to say about quarterback Jalen Hurts’ critics after Sunday’s NFC Championship victory.
The Eagles are headed to the Super Bowl after their 55-23 win over the Washington Commanders. Afterward, Sirianni made some pointed remarks addressing media criticism Hurts has endured in recent months.
During an interview on the field with Fox Sports’ Terry Bradshaw, Sirianni effusively praised Hurts.
“How about our quarterback? How about our quarterback?” Sirianni said. “He’s a stud! I knew he was going to play that way! I knew it! Don’t doubt him All he does is win!”
Nick Sirianni about Jalen Hurts: “Don’t doubt him! All he does is win.” pic.twitter.com/Y0Ru4hbgMu
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) January 26, 2025
Of course, every head coach praises their quarterback after a big win, but Sirianni’s comments there and in his postgame press conference seemed to be aimed at those who’ve cast doubt on Hurts in recent months.
When A.J. Brown said after a win over the Carolina Panthers in early December the Eagles’ passing game needed to improve, many critics pointed the finger at Hurts. Sunday NFL Countdown’s Alex Smith said the passing game had been “abysmal,” and that Hurts had “missed so many opportunities” and was “risk-adverse.”
After that aforementioned game against the Panthers, ESPN’s Domonique Foxworth got personal in his criticism of Hurts, saying he benefited from “pretty privilege.”
“He got up at the press conference after the game, and he acted like he was Josh Allen,” Foxworth said. “Look at this man with his Kangol looking like Nino Brown… with three thousand million trillion dollars worth of diamonds on his neck, and he acting like he just went for 400 yards for three weeks in a row.”
And earlier this season, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky labeled Hurts a “liability” for the Eagles.
So while Sirianni didn’t mention any media figure in particular in his postgame presser, there were plenty of potential targets.
“It’s amazing how much doubt there is sometimes, I can’t quite comprehend it,” Sirianni said. “It doesn’t look like people think it should look like. But the guy has been clutch and he’s won a ton of football games.”
Nick Sirianni says he can’t understand or comprehend all the doubt that Jalen Hurts gets
“All he does is win” pic.twitter.com/cQkIpwpZNE
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) January 27, 2025
Hurts doesn’t have gaudy stats this season, with only 2,903 yards and 18 touchdowns. Then again, running back Saquon Barkley had an historic 2,000-yard season. Sometimes you go with the hot hand.
“We don’t care how we win,” Sirianni said. “If we rush for 300 and pass for 1 and we win great … who cares? We just continue to win, he just continues to win, and I think the criticism is — whatever. He just wins and I said what I said after the game and that’s kind of how I feel.”
