Eagles' Jalen Hurts discusses Nick Sirianni 'elephant in the room'

An ESPN story released earlier this month expanded on a previous report about the relationship between Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts that allegedly "is still a work in progress" coming off the club's collapse last season.

Hurts and Sirianni suggested in July that they're on the same page regardless of what outsiders have to say, and the 26-year-old touched upon the subject during a recent chat with Andscape's Martenzie Johnson .

"As we go into this season, Nick and I have a great understanding, we have mutual respect for one another, and we’re in a great space, and we’re excited for the journey that’s ahead," Hurts told Johnson. "I think it’s an elephant in the room for everybody else, but not me. I’m in a great space. We’re both in a great space."

The pair guided the Eagles to a Super Bowl berth in February 2023. While Philadelphia ultimately lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, Hurts became a finalist for the regular-season Most Valuable Player Award and later signed a five-year contract extension reportedly worth up to $255M with $179.3M guaranteed during the subsequent offseason.

Hurts seemed on track to compete again for MVP honors when the 2023 Eagles began the campaign at 10-1. Questions about his leadership style arose after Philadelphia lost five of its six final regular-season contests and suffered a blowout wild-card playoff defeat at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"People don’t know that they don’t know," Hurts said about the rumors that have hovered over the Eagles since this past January. "People don’t know what they don’t know."

What is known is that Sirianni has transitioned into "more of a CEO-type role" with new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and new quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier working directly with Hurts. It's early into that arrangement. Still, things seem to be going well for everybody involved ahead of Philadelphia's regular-season opener against the Green Bay Packers in Brazil on Sept. 6.

"There’s a united mindset," Hurts said about having Moore and Nussmeier in his ear. "There’s a great understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish, and then there is also an understanding of what that takes and the work. I pride myself on putting in the work and doing those things so we can be where we’re trying to be. So it’s a step we have to take together. It’s really important for us three to attac k that process together and just continue to take it one day at a time."

NFL insiders and analysts routinely name former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick as a potential replacement for Sirianni, with the 43-year-old reportedly entering a make-or-break season regarding his Eagles tenure. The best way for Hurts to immediately support his coach would be to lead Philadelphia to an impressive win over Green Bay in Week 1.