Eagles' OC Sean Mannion details why Jalen Hurts is built to excel
· Yahoo Sports
The Philadelphia Eagles have spent the offseason introducing new ideas offensively, but one thing remains unchanged entering the 2026 season: complete confidence in quarterback Jalen Hurts.
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New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion met with reporters and offered perhaps his strongest public endorsement yet of Hurts, praising everything from his physical tools to his relentless approach behind the scenes.
After replacing Kevin Patullo and stepping into one of the NFL's highest-profile offensive coordinator roles, Mannion has spent the early stages of OTAs and Phase 2 of off-season workouts building chemistry with Philadelphia's franchise quarterback. What he's seen so far has only reinforced why Hurts remains one of the league's elite signal-callers. During his face-to-face session with the Philly media, the Eagles' first-year offensive coordinator praised Jalen Hurts as “a very capable learner” while discussing their early connection and Hurts' adaptability. Recently asked about Mannion while on tour for his new book Better Than a Touchdown, Hurts stated, "He's amazing. I'm excited for what's to come."
On Thursday, Mannion said more about Hurts.
Sean Mannion on Jalen Hurts: "I really think he can do anything we ask of him. He's accurate. He's a great athlete. He really attacks the fundamentals. That's what's been really fun to watch these last two weeks of phase two. He's always coming, wanting more things to work on,…
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) May 21, 2026
Hurts threw for 3,224 yards, 25 touchdowns, six interceptions, with 421 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in 16 regular-season games.
Mannion will coordinate and build the Eagles' new offense and should thrive, having been a career backup quarterback who understands what Hurts is experiencing under center. Mannion has seen everything in the NFL, every system, every offense, and every defense that works to counter explosive offensive units. The 33-year-old played quarterback under several of today's top coaches during his journeyman career, including Sean McVay, Kevin Stefanski, Kevin O'Connell, and Klint Kubiak.
The quarterback's struggles against zone coverage have been highlighted, and that will be priority No. 1 for Mannion and pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard. According to ESPN stats, Hurts faced zone on over 56% of offensive plays—one of the highest rates of his career. While his completion percentage remained solid, the impact plays dropped significantly. Against man coverage, Hurts threw 19 touchdowns to just three interceptions. Against zone, that number drastically fell to six touchdowns and three interceptions.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles' OC Sean Mannion highlights Jalen Hurts' talent and mindset