Jalen Hurts has dramatically exceeded expectations this season, culminating in bringing a championship trophy back to Philadelphia.
Initially, entering the campaign – and even the subsequent playoff rounds – there was considerable debate surrounding the Eagles’ quarterback. Many observers viewed him as a strategic play-caller with a strong supporting roster but lacking consistent individual brilliance. However, he emphatically demonstrated his capabilities during the playoffs, leading the team to an astounding 95 points across their final two games, including victories in the NFC Championship and Super Bowl.
Former Eagles linebacker Brian Dawkins believes this performance wasn’t entirely unexpected. He observed Hurts’ potential early in his career, noting a resilient character forged by a significant setback – being replaced as starting quarterback during the 2018 national championship game at Alabama. Tua Tagovailoa ultimately delivered the decisive walk-off touchdown to DeVonta Smith, ironically an eventual Eagles wide receiver. “When that happened,” Dawkins stated, “it taught me a lot about his character… That young man is who I saw being introduced to Philadelphia and grow as a quarterback. And he’s still growing.”
Now, with a Super Bowl ring and two subsequent Super Bowl appearances in just three years, Dawkins anticipates even greater contributions from Hurts. “It’s baffling when people express frustration that Jalen isn’t consistently playing at his peak,” Dawkins asserted. “Certain games, he simply wasn’t performing at the level he’s capable of.” Drawing a parallel to his own meticulous self-evaluation as a player, he emphasized, “I’m someone that I’m always critical of myself on film. When I’m not at my best, I’m honest with myself. And I’m sure he’s the same way. If he is the same way, he’d say the same exact things.
Dawkins highlighted a key distinction: Hurts’ ability to elevate his game in high-pressure situations when healthy. “What sets him apart is when he’s healthy, and he gets into those big environments, he plays at a different level. It’s a good problem, but when you flash that, people will always expect it. You gotta hold him to a higher standard.”
This conversation with Fox News Digital was facilitated by Boehringer & Lilly’s “It Takes 2” health initiative, which Dawkins is championing to raise awareness about type-2 diabetes and kidney disease. Driven by his family history – noting that both parents grapple with these conditions – he emphasizes the importance of proactive testing. “Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure is something that my parents have. And so once I heard that, the rest of this information hit home for me,” Dawkins explained. “It’s those individuals that need to take different tests… they figure out if you are going down the path on developing kidney disease or cardiovascular risk as well. So, once I found that information out, being proactive, I wanted to make sure that my parents had this information and their caregivers have this information so they can get those tests.” He urged individuals with a family history to seek testing through resources like testyourkidneys.com.
Furthermore, Dawkins referenced the ‘tush push,’ a distinctive play that contributed significantly to the Eagles’ success, noting it has been replicated but never truly matched by other teams. “If you’re an Eagles fan, keep doing it! It’s tough to stop,” he declared. “It’s been stopped, it’s not 100%. Things happen – offensive line might slip, defensive line might be bigger. But for Jalen, he squats 600 pounds. Not every team has that element.”
The play remains legal as of now and is expected to continue being a prominent feature in the NFL’s Red Zone broadcasts throughout the coming years.
