The Philadelphia Eagles are sitting pretty atop the NFC East with an impressive 8-4 record as they gear up for a high-stakes Week 14 Monday Night Football clash against the Los Angeles Chargers. But while the team has enjoyed a relatively drama-free week—by Eagles standards, at least—things just got explosive thanks to former NFL quarterback and analyst Chris Simms.
This week has been unusually calm for Philly. No major scandals, no anonymous leaks painting the team in a negative light. The biggest off-field buzz was the Eagles’ unsuccessful chase for star cornerback Darius Slay, and quarterback Jalen Hurts firmly shutting down rumors that he’s pushing the team to dial back his running plays this season. It felt like business as usual—until Simms dropped a bombshell on Friday during his appearance on the “This Is Football” podcast with Kevin Clark.
When asked about the Eagles’ struggles, Simms didn’t hold back. He unleashed a blistering 6-minute rant that squarely placed the blame for Philadelphia’s offensive woes on none other than Jalen Hurts himself. This wasn’t just casual commentary; it was a narrative-shifting takedown that could redefine how fans and insiders view the Eagles’ season.
“Everybody’s blaming the coaches and the blame deserves to be on the quarterback,” Simms declared emphatically. “That’s it. Again, this is why you heard last week and the week before from Philadelphia beat writers who have been there forever, Seth Joyner, all these people. There’s a lot of unhappiness in the organization about the quarterback. The quarterback won’t play the game in the pocket. The quarterback has hijacked the offense and won’t let them run certain plays. I’ve been saying this for two years. Right now, people are starting to realize. I’m not just saying it. I know it.”
Simms didn’t stop there. He claimed insider knowledge from current and former Eagles personnel, insisting that head coach Nick Sirianni’s offensive scheme is limited because of Hurts. “I’ve been told by people there now (and) people that were there and left. Nick Sirianni didn’t get this job because they went, ‘Man, you only have five plays in your offense. We want you.’ They run a limited offense because of the quarterback,” Simms continued.
He even critiqued the team’s run game, calling it uncreative and stagnant. “The run game has never been creative. It’s never. Last year, it was a lot of the same runs you’re seeing right now…This is where the organization is going crazy because the public is pointing the finger at everybody except the guy who deserves the blame. All of the players and coaches know that it’s the quarterback.”
You can catch the full, unfiltered segment [right here](link-to-segment), where Simms’ passion is on full display. As the quarterback, Hurts is undeniably at the center of every play, but Simms’ take feels like a full-on assault. Through 12 games, Hurts has racked up 2,514 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and just two interceptions, plus 329 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. That’s a staggering 27 total touchdowns against only two turnovers—an elite ratio that most NFL signal-callers would kill for.
Sure, the Eagles’ offense hasn’t been firing on all cylinders, and that’s been a hot topic all year. As the QB, Hurts shoulders some responsibility for the inconsistencies. But with the team holding an 8-4 record and leading the NFC East, these criticisms seem over-the-top. The vast majority of quarterbacks league-wide would trade places with Hurts in a heartbeat for those stats and that standing.
Simms’ rant has ignited fresh debate, potentially flipping the script on who’s really at fault for Philly’s offensive hiccups. As the Eagles prepare to face the Chargers, all eyes will be on Hurts to see if he can silence the doubters—or if this narrative gains even more traction. Stay tuned; this story is far from over.