When it comes to the NFC East, there's never any shortage of opportunities for rival fans to take pleasure in one another's dysfunction.
The Washington Commanders have been on the receiving end of it many times. But right now, it's the back-to-back defending division champions who seem to be collapsing from within.
Jalen Hurts is one of the most polarizing quarterbacks in football. He's a Super Bowl MVP and a three-time Pro Bowler. And yet, nobody aside from Philadelphia Eagles fans thinks he's anything more than a replaceable product of his system.
It turns out, those sentiments reportedly exist within the Eagles' building as well.
Commanders must be ready to capitalize on Eagles' uncertainty around Jalen Hurts
According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, there have been some uncomfortable conversations about Hurts in Philadelphia. One source remarks on him: "Poor body language, not always bought in, not the most coachable, and players notice." Another claims he had "Too many 'Yes' people around him" during a season when the Eagles ultimately fell flat in the playoffs.
Hurts has infamously worked with a different offensive coordinator in nearly every season of his NFL career. That has been cited as a prime catalyst for the Eagles' inconsistent year-to-year performance, but the quarterback's stubbornness also plays a role in why some of those relationships have been short-lived.
Additionally, Hurts and his teammates haven't always been on the same page. Wide receiver A.J. Brown was notably frustrated with the Eagles' offense throughout the 2025 campaign. The quarterback claims the two of them have a positive relationship, but sources around them tell a different story.
Reportedly, the friction between Hurts and other Eagles members was so tense at one point that the team sent chief security officer Dom DiSandro to his home to speak with him about better connecting with his teammates and coaches. That was during Philadelphia's 2024 bye week, when they were 2-2. They finished with only one additional loss and won Super Bowl LIX.
Now, with another wild-card round exit a season later, Hurts' skeptics are as loud as ever. The Eagles' dominant run game and offensive line took a step back in 2025, and the signal-caller couldn't do the heavy lifting.
In a "What have you done for me lately?" league, it feels like this upcoming season is a make-or-break year for Hurts with the Eagles. If they don't return to their Super Bowl-contending form, his act could wear thin enough to incite some extremely difficult decisions.
And the rest of the division will have their popcorn ready.