Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Shares ‘Nice Words’ with Patriots Bill Belichick

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will make his third opening-day start after going 2-0 so far in those games

PHILADELPHIA – Jalen Hurts and Bill Belichick spent part of the week throwing bouquets at each other. 

“You’re talking about one of the top players in the league or one of the top two or three best players in the league,” said Belichick, the New England Patriots’ head coach ahead of Sunday’s Week 1 meeting against the Eagles at Gillette. “Nobody has anybody that can be him (on the Patriots’ scout team) and if he is he’s probably not playing on a scout team.

“We’ll have somebody try to simulate what Hurts does but we don’t have anybody like Hurts and probably nobody else does either.”

Hurts, the Eagles’ quarterback, was informed of Belichick’s comments about him being one of the best in the league.

“I think he’s arguably one of the best coaches to ever coach this game,” he said. “The consistency he’s been able to have and the production he’s been able to have. Obviously, how he impacts everybody from afar. I see that. I have a lot of respect for that.

“So those are nice words from him. I think, again, you’re talking about a really good team, a really good defense, a well-coached team. For us, we have to control the things we can.”

Jalen Hurts and Bill Belichick

Hurts will begin his third season as the Eagles’ starting quarterback and he will do so armed with an offseason contract extension worth $255 million through 2028.

In his first two season openers, Hurts has led the Eagles to victories. He has done so, however, in different ways, which says a lot about the many ways in which he can assert his will over opponents.

Two years ago, in his starting debut, the Eagles beat the Atlanta Falcons on the road, 32-6. 

Hurts’ was 27 for 35 passing with 264 yards and a passer rating of 126.4. He threw three touchdown passes, one each to DeVonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, and Dallas Goedert. Hurts did not throw an interception and was sacked only once. On the ground, he ran seven times for 62 yards.

Last year, in a 38-35 win over the Detroit Lions, again on the road, Hurts completed just 18 of 32 passes for 243 yards and a passer rating of 80.6. He was sacked once and did not throw a touchdown or interception. His damage came in the run game, where he had 90 yards on 17 runs and a touchdown.

“Everybody knows, it’s not a secret,” said Eagles receiver A.J. Brown about his quarterback. “Everybody knows what he can do. Everybody knows he’s coming. And his job is to continue to grow. Continue to develop as a quarterback. And to lead this team. And I’m sure he will.”

Eagles cornerback Darius Slay said he is glad that Hurts is his quarterback. He added, jokingly, that Hurts improved his game by not throwing Slay’s way very often in practice.

“You can see how smart he is and how he’s commanding the offense more, understanding the defense and leverage and seeing stuff,” said Slay. “He’s probably taking a lot off (center Jason) Kelce because Kelce is real great at making checks, so he gets help from Kelce a lot, but he’s understanding the game more with the more reps he gets. He’s doing an amazing job. Seeing him grow, I can’t wait to see this season.”