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Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Just one year ago, Jalen Hurts was the reigning Super Bowl MVP. Flash forward over 12 months, and the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback is fighting to defend his reputation after a scathing ESPN report painted a very unflattering picture of his role Philadelphia’s offense.

On April 18, Hurts posted a brief message on his Instagram page — his first post since the April 1 report by ESPN insiders Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler. “This didn’t happen fast. This happened because I never stopped,” Hurts wrote in the caption.

It was the first public signal that the Philly QB is fully aware of the scrutiny surrounding him since the report landed earlier this month. The ESPN report noted Hurts was at a “crossroads” with the organization and accused him of having “had a hand in the offense becoming calcified.”

According to anonymous team sources cited by ESPN, Hurts pushed back on changes that would have diversified the Eagles’ offense, and he showed reluctance to attack zone coverage and diverted from the game plan to a degree that frustrated members of the organization.

Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Shares Instagram Post, Seemingly Addressing Criticism From ESPN Report

The criticism Hurts is receiving is likely in part due to Philly’s relative underperformance as a team in 2025. After winning the Super Bowl, the Eagles went 11-5 the following season before being eliminated in the wild-card round by the San Francisco 49ers. The team subsequently fired offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and replaced him with Sean Mannion.

You win and lose as a team, of course, but QB1 is always subject to the most criticism and scrutiny.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman addressed the report publicly, stopping short of disputing its contents while still defending his QB’s character. “We will talk to our players directly and I think that it’s unfair — it’s unfair to have these articles written, but I understand it’s also what sells at this point,” Roseman said about the ESPN report’s portrayal of Hurts, via Bleeding Green Nation. “So, yeah, I think it’s unfortunate.“

Hurts’ Instagram post sent a fairly straightforward message: Despite the noise, he’s just focused on putting in the work.

2026 Will Clearly Be a Pivotal One for Eagles & Hurts

GettyJalen Hurts shared his first Instagram post since the damning April 1 ESPN report was released. His response to the criticism was telling.

Hurts, 27, is under contract through the 2028 season on a five-year, $255 million extension signed in April of 2023. The Eagles signal-caller is no stranger to doubters or criticism, and he’s always managed to rise above it somehow.

The current controversy surrounding him has been a bit of a recurring theme throughout Hurts’ career. He was benched at halftime of the 2018 national championship game at Alabama by Nick Saban in favor of freshman Tua Tagovailoa. He subsequently transferred to Oklahoma, became a starter again and was selected by Philadelphia in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

His ascent from backup QB to franchise quarterback to Super Bowl champion was gradual and methodical. Over the last five seasons, he has led Philadelphia to the playoffs five consecutive times, posting a 6-4 postseason record with two Super Bowl appearances. He played lights out in both Super Bowls, winning one.

Thus, if history is any guide, betting against Hurts has never been a winning strategy.

Beth Mishler-Elmore Beth Mishler-Elmore is a Heavy sports contributor based in the Midwest, focusing on the NFL, NBA and WNBA. More about Beth Mishler-Elmore