The Philadelphia Eagles ask a lot from Jalen Hurts. He's responsible for directing an offense, making split-second decisions under pressure, meeting the expectations of a passionate fan base, and serving as one of the organization's primary faces.
Those responsibilities only grow when expectations are as high as they are in Philadelphia. Head coach Nick Sirianni was asked about that responsibility on Saturday
.But let's rewind to a comment Hurts made. After last week's win over the Tennessee Titans, Hurts said he couldn't adequately put into words the responsibility that comes with playing quarterback in the NFL. As it turns out, Sirianni found that task just as difficult.
"It's hard work. I'm not sure I can either. It's a lot of hard work. It's a lot of responsibility.
It's a lot of credit, and it's a lot of blame. It takes great mental toughness to be able to sustain the ups and downs that all these players go through on a weekly basis."
Coach Sirianni didn't just offer a simple explanation of the position. Instead, he expanded on why the quarterback role differs from any other in sports.
Nick Sirianni couldn't ask for a better partner than Jalen Hurts.
"I'm not sure I could put it into words, but there is immense responsibility to an organization and to a city in playing the most important position in sports. I’m sure glad we have Jalen Hurts playing the most important position in sports in Philadelphia because I love him and everything that he’s done for us and everything he’ll continue to do for us."
That statement naturally led Sirianni to discuss the player currently carrying that responsibility for the Eagles. The head coach has repeatedly praised Hurts throughout their time together. Still, his comments Saturday felt especially revealing because he made them while discussing leadership, accountability, and the pressure that comes with the position. Sirianni then compared his relationship with Hurts to one of the most important working partnerships inside the organization.
"I'm sure glad we have Jalen Hurts playing the most important position in sports in Philadelphia because I love him and everything that he's done for us and everything he'll continue to do for us. I always say about [Executive Vice President/General Manager] Howie [Roseman], I couldn’t ask for a better partner in this and I feel the same way about Jalen. I couldn’t ask for a better partner in this journey."
Those comments reflect the level of trust the Eagles continue to place in their quarterback. Hurts has already delivered his share of memorable moments through the first two weeks of the season, including helping guide Philadelphia through a dramatic victory over the Tennessee Titans.
While statistics and highlight plays often dominate conversations about quarterbacks, Sirianni's answer reminded everyone that leadership remains one of the qualities the organization values most. When discussing the immense responsibility that comes with being the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, Sirianni made one thing abundantly clear: no one would rather have Jalen Hurts carrying that burden or battling with him in the foxhole.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Nick Sirianni explains his trust in Jalen Hurts as Eagles quarterback
