The Philadelphia Eagles were never supposed to look like this. Not after the roster moves, not after the preseason predictions, and certainly not after the standard they set over the past two years. The 2025 campaign was meant to be a continuation of the rise—proof that the franchise had the right coach, the right system, and the right quarterback to stay competitive for years. But as the season unfolded, it became painfully obvious that something was deeply wrong in Philadelphia. And at the center of it all stands Jalen Hurts, a player fighting with everything he has while the organization around him slowly unravels.

The collapse didn’t happen overnight. It didn’t begin with a single bad game or a single blown decision. Instead, it was a gradual erosion—like watching a structure weaken from the inside long before the outside finally cracks. The Eagles’ record doesn’t tell the full story. Their performances, their body language, and their inability to execute in moments that once felt automatic reveal a team drifting further and further from its identity. And for anyone who has followed Hurts’ career closely, it is becoming more and more clear that he is being asked to carry a burden no quarterback could shoulder alone.

At his best, Hurts embodies steadiness, leadership, composure, and determination. He has always been respected for his mental toughness and his capacity to stay grounded during storms. But even the strongest leaders need support. Even the toughest quarterbacks require stability around them. And right now, Hurts is being let down by both the structure and the personnel that should be lifting him up.

It begins with the offensive line—a group once considered one of the strongest units in the league. For years, the Eagles built their identity on trench dominance. They protected their quarterback, controlled the pace, and dictated games physically. Now, the cracks are obvious. Injuries, inconsistent rotations, and aging veterans have created holes that defenses exploit relentlessly. Hurts, who was once able to scan the field with confidence, now finds himself scrambling not by design, but by necessity. His internal clock has shifted from calm to urgent, and that change has ripple effects on every element of the offense.

The protection problems feed into another glaring issue: the lack of cohesion among playmakers. The receiving corps, once highlighted by crisp routes and explosive separation, now looks disjointed. Miscommunication shows up every week—routes run at the wrong depths, passes thrown to empty space, timing disrupted before plays even develop. Hurts, who thrives on rhythm and timing, is forced to adjust on the fly. Sometimes he makes magic. Sometimes he makes mistakes. But those mistakes are now being pinned on him, even when the problems began long before the ball left his hand.

The run game hasn’t offered relief either. Instead of being a reliable anchor, it has fluctuated wildly—from dominant one week to non-existent the next. Defenses no longer fear the Eagles’ ground attack, and that absence of threat allows opponents to commit more defenders to coverage. Hurts is left trying to thread passes into closing windows, attempting to create offense against defenses that know exactly what’s coming.

Coaching, too, must be part of the conversation. The schemes feel predictable. The adjustments come too late. The creativity that once defined the Eagles’ offense has faded. What used to feel like a system built around Hurts’ strengths now feels like a system leaning on him to compensate for its weaknesses. Instead of putting him in positions to succeed, the coaching staff often leaves him trying to salvage broken plays. For a player who already carries so much responsibility, the lack of support is impossible to ignore.

Defensively, the issues are just as troubling. Philadelphia’s defense has always been aggressive, relentless, and disciplined. Not anymore. Opposing quarterbacks are picking apart soft zones, running backs are finding gaps that shouldn’t exist, and the secondary is struggling with assignments that should be routine. What once looked like one of the most intimidating units in the league now looks like a group searching for answers with no time left on the clock.

The most heartbreaking part of this collapse is not the losses themselves, but the visible toll they are taking on Hurts. Every press conference, every sideline shot, every frustrated exhale paints a picture of a player carrying a weight far heavier than his share. He isn’t giving up—he never does—but the weariness is impossible to ignore. You can see it in the way he stands after another drive stalls, in the way he talks about execution as though he believes he must fix everything himself.

Hurts deserves better. He deserves structure, support, and a team capable of matching his dedication. He deserves coaches willing to evolve, players willing to hold themselves accountable, and an organization willing to step in before things spiral further. Quarterbacks of his caliber don’t come around often. When they do, it is the responsibility of the franchise to protect them—not just physically, but organizationally and emotionally. Right now, the Eagles are failing in that duty.

The fanbase knows it too. Philadelphia fans are passionate, brutally honest, and loyal to the core. They can accept losing if they see effort, growth, and accountability. But what they are witnessing now is confusion—mixed messages, inconsistent performances, and the sense that the team they love is drifting without direction. They aren’t frustrated because they expect perfection. They’re frustrated because they know this team is capable of so much more.

There is still time for the Eagles to regain their footing, but time alone won’t fix what’s broken. It will take introspection, change, and humility. It will take coaches willing to challenge their own decisions. It will take players recognizing the weight of the moment and responding accordingly. And it will take leadership from the very top of the organization to stabilize the foundation before it cracks beyond repair.

Jalen Hurts cannot be expected to carry this franchise on his back forever. He is the face of the team, not the entire team. If the Eagles want to climb out of this downward spiral, they must recognize that their star quarterback is doing everything he can—and more. Now, the rest of the organization must match his commitment.

This isn’t the Eagles we know.
This isn’t the team fans were promised.
And this certainly isn’t the environment a player like Jalen Hurts deserves.

But the beauty of football is that redemption is always possible. The season isn’t over. The story isn’t finished. And if Philadelphia can rally around its quarterback the way he has always rallied around his team, the collapse we’re witnessing may yet become the turning point the franchise desperately needs.

Until then, the truth remains painfully clear:
Jalen Hurts deserves better.
And the Eagles must decide whether they are ready to give it to him.